BVBL Removed from NLS Blogroll
I link to most Virginia blogs on my blogroll. I do not censor or remove people for political disagreement. I will link to anyone of either party, even when I totally disagree with them. Usually if someone is not included it is because I either haven't seen their blog, or forgot to add them when I first saw it.
However, last year I had to begin removing sites that were participating in a coordinated campaign to smear people. I'm not going to link to blogs that present ideas as their own, but that are in fact coordinated talking points on email in order to destroy people's reputations. Those blogs still are not on my blogroll.
I also do not rank blogs based on content, but instead they are ranked in how much new information they provide that you can get before you see it in the mainstream media. That includes direct news, and analysis of the news. With politicians like Corey Stewart and John Stirrup seeming to follow the blogger (instead of the other way around), the only place I could justify linking to BVBL was in the highest section.
However. after watching this youtube video, I am now for the first time, not linking to another blog because of content.
I think I saw the dog post when it went up, but I skimmed by it, and did not read it carefully. Those comments are totally unacceptable. While Greg has demaugauged the immigration issue in Prince William County, I was not going to remove him from my blogroll for doing so. That's a political issue, and while I disagree with him on it, I will not remove people for political disagreements.
Yet the dog post crosses the line from a political statement, to comments that are not a joke, not funny, and are totally unacceptable to make. I'm removing BVBL from the NLS Blogroll until I see a change at BVBL in the way they are conducting themselves.
Hypocrisy, thy name is Ben.
That you even have the stupidity to "call out" ANYONE for anything like this is beyond absurd. You mention smears and talking points only a few posts up from YOUR continuing hatchet job on "Jabba" Gerry Connolly. To say nothing of your proud new whoredom for "Mr. Ed" Mark Warner.
Give me a frigging break.
Posted by: Hello Pot, Meet Kettle | April 13, 2008 at 07:22 PM
t commends NLS for this principled bold move.
BVBL should have been banned long ago after he tried to annihilate the Most Distinquished and Most Honorable Steve Chapman.
NLS continues to impress with his sound judgement, and evenhanded journalistic integrity.
NLS remains the most trusted source of political information in the Commonwealth.
t recommends that NLS similarly ban RK and Waldo - two blogs every bit as disgusting as BVBL.
Posted by: t | April 13, 2008 at 07:51 PM
You have raised my opinion of you considerably -- BVBL is a racist site and I was always disappointed that you had it linked, to the point where I stopped visiting your blog. A friend told me that you had removed the link and I will start reading more often in hope that the overall content is also going to be upgraded.
Posted by: | April 13, 2008 at 07:53 PM
OK, you take a look at that post, and tell me what problem you have with it:
http://www.bvbl.net/index.php/2008/02/22/for-sale/
I can understand disagreeing with content, but removing a link for content well after that content has been removed seems just a little strange. It's a little like Jeanette Rishell waiting three days after a Klan lit drop to hold a press conference condemning the KKK.
Feel free to poke around to find whatever other content you might find sufficiently objectionable to justify this action, and that is still available. I'll be interested to see what rationale you can come up with that actually holds water.
I'm sure you can do better than this.
Posted by: Greg Letiecq | April 13, 2008 at 08:03 PM
Grapes concurs with the decision to ban BVBL, and hopes that the ban is a permanent one.
Grapes applauds Ben, and appreciates his standards of excellence that have made NLS the preeminent source of quality investigative journalism in the Virginia blogoshpere.
Posted by: Grapes | April 13, 2008 at 08:14 PM
What a bunch of Macacca Ben. Now we all know YOU would NEVER try to smear ANYONE...
Posted by: Rtwng Extrmst | April 13, 2008 at 08:15 PM
How unbecoming to watch Greg grovel.
Get up off your knees Greg.
Posted by: t | April 13, 2008 at 08:16 PM
Suddenly Greg's content is too much? What happened to those happy hours?
http://www.bvbl.net/index.php/2007/08/31/blogger-happy-hour-reminder/
Posted by: Chris | April 13, 2008 at 08:19 PM
I don't support boycotting Prince William County, Chris. Too many people who aren't involved in this debate would be hurt by that- it was a terrible idea. Do you really not understand the difference between that and this dog post?
Posted by: Not Larry Sabato | April 13, 2008 at 08:21 PM
BVBL is disgusting slime that doesn't belong in the blogosphere. Thanks for making a principled stand.
Posted by: Sam | April 13, 2008 at 08:31 PM
As someone who criticized you early on for having a prominently displayed link to bvbl - congratulations
Posted by: | April 13, 2008 at 08:43 PM
what did they threaten you with Ben?
Posted by: Spank That Donkey | April 13, 2008 at 09:01 PM
"crosses the line from a political statement, to comments that are not a joke, not funny, and are totally unacceptable to make."
Quick.. get rid of rk...
If that is the criteria for removal, I would suggest that you could remove all your links and ban all those who post on them... including this one.
I suppose I have crossed those lines a bit myself at times.
I suppose that free speech is no longer alive and well, at least not here...
Posted by: | April 13, 2008 at 09:02 PM
I've said BVBL is a bigot and demagogue for awhile. I applaud this move.
I hope we ALL use this opportunity to look at the level of "discourse" that sometimes appears in the blogosphere, including here.
Posted by: Interested Observer | April 13, 2008 at 09:06 PM
Perhaps Ben should remove NLS????
Posted by: Rtwng Extrmst | April 13, 2008 at 09:29 PM
I see that Greg Letiecq never gives up -- Ben removes the link, so Letiecq inserts one of his own in the comments section. How pathetic.
Posted by: | April 13, 2008 at 09:52 PM
I don't know, Ben. I certainly have my issues with Greg, and he with me. Don't know if I agree with this one.
However, as Greg has, in the past, felt free to ban certain commenters (including me, though not currently), I am hard-pressed to say that this is anything but within your unreviewable discretion.
Posted by: James Young | April 13, 2008 at 09:59 PM
io,
We have a "bigot and demagogue" running for president.
Nobody is suggesting that his views be silenced.
Posted by: | April 13, 2008 at 10:09 PM
"Those comments are totally unacceptable." I am glad to see more and more people saying this aloud. Thank you for being one of those people.
Posted by: Kgotthardt | April 13, 2008 at 10:15 PM
I hate dishonesty more than racism
If you are racist, admit it. You have a right to be racist and vote for whomever your racist personality feels good about. But dont try to dodge racism, thats dishonest. My Mom doesnt want to vote obama, because shes racist. I heard her applaude MLKs death in 1968. Thats a sad fact, but shes still my mom, I still love her, shes just a racist. But she tries to explain that Obama is a muslim( As if that racism is any better), etc etc. She even told me she would vote for mccain if Obama is the candidate. That would be the first time anybody in my family has voted republican since 1904.
So you Hillary voters, tell us about her plusses, because telling us about Obamas minuses is never going change anybodies mind.
Just my two cents. Same thing goes for the nativist racists harrassing Hispanics, esp in PWC. That is racism, plain and simple, and the market is killing PWC homeowners and taxpayers big time. Racism is NEVER good for business.
Posted by: paul vogel | April 13, 2008 at 10:30 PM
I love when the WaPo types come on here. They apply the tired label of racist for those who simply want laws enforced. What libs never are able to explain is why legal citizens should be delighted at having criminals in our midst. I would protest and police any who come to our country illegally and cost us money regardless of color. What's so hard to understand about that?
Posted by: Cry Me a River | April 13, 2008 at 10:59 PM
I agree that given NLS' tactics in the Democratic Presidential nomination fight, Ben should be one of the last people trying to go for the moral high road.
However, only an ostrich would pretend that Save the Old Dominion isn't a racist organization. Their local affiliate here in Virginia Beach has endorsed an English language amendment, which wouldn't do a thing to seal the border. No, it's simply about bashing Hispanics.
Yes, we have an illegal immigration problem, but Save the Old Dominion and it's local affiliates are the moral equivalent of the KKK.
Posted by: Henry Ryto | April 14, 2008 at 02:30 AM
"the dog post crosses the line from a political statement, to comments that are not a joke, not funny, and are totally unacceptable to make"
And this comes from the blogger who calls candidates he doesn't like "douchebags" and "bitch" -- those must be political statements.
Ben, you are a hypocrite. And worse, you're not even very good at it.
Posted by: IP | April 14, 2008 at 06:34 AM
Why is taking a stand hypocritical? Why is saying, "Okay, you crossed that line" hypocritical? We all have our boundaries.
This really isn't or shouldn't be a partisan discussion. What does partisanship have to do with any of this? It's the people and the law we are talking about....not parties. Or am I on the wrong blog for that?
Posted by: Kgotthardt | April 14, 2008 at 07:35 AM
cry me a river
You are a racist. See above arguements. My point is that EVERYONE is a racist. That is why we have c . rights laws.
You have at least two places where you can practice racism..
That is in whom you romance and wed, and who you vote for in the voting booth.
So dont attack me for calling you out.
Take responsibilty.( You republicans are BIG on tht!
Posted by: paul vogel | April 14, 2008 at 07:52 AM