ALPolitics.com Makes 1,000th Post

One thousand of anything is a lot. For a News and Opinion site, it’s an important milestone.

For ALPolitics.com, this is it. The 1,000th post.

Several months ago, I was asked if I’d be willing to write for a new site. Since I was already doing that kind of thing, I said “yes” without too much thought.

Some time later, I was asked if I would take on the title of Managing Editor. I actually took some time to think about it, and made a few things clear before I agreed to do it.

First and foremost, I insisted that, as Editor, articles from all over the political and ideological spectrums would be considered for publication. “Fair and balanced” was a good phrase until Fox ran it into the ground, but it neatly sums my vision for this site.

We all have our own views, biases and perceptual prisms through which we view the world. This is an inescapable part of the human condition. That being said, everyone has the right to express their point of view, in their own voice—and as Editor, I made it clear that I would follow that philosophy.

I’ve long said that others are free to disagree with me—they have the God-given and Constitutionally-guaranteed right to be wrong.

As Editor, I would provide a platform for people to be as wrong as they want, as often as they want, because I also believe that the First Amendment, buttressed by the Second, is the cornerstone of the Republic.

And anyway—if we all agreed all the time, how boring would that be?

Democrat, Republican, Libertarian, Socialist, Dixiecrat (yes, I remember them), Communist—all would have a platform on this site, should they choose to use it, under my Editorship. The best way to expose flawed ideas is to give them a megaphone and let them destroy themselves with their own words, or so I’ve come to believe.

I would, of course, reserve the right to shred their ideas and metaphorically eviscerate their pieces in my own OpEds, because I believe that is the nature of discourse the country needs.

As Southerners, we imbibe this talent with our momma’s milk, and learn to do it with a smile. Bless your little hearts.

We should use our words, not violent action, to convey our ideas—no matter how much some idiots need to be slapped upside the head. Yes, I know it’s stressful—-why do you think I’m on medicine for ulcers and high blood pressure?

My philosophy on News versus Opinions was laid out early on. News, in my view, should be focused on “just the facts, ma’am.” Inevitably, some bias will creep in—see the bit about the human condition, above—but this is a standard that should be held up as a goal to which we should aspire. As fallible humans, we will inevitably fail from time to time, but we can certainly try.

Opinions, on the other hand, are like noses and sphincters—everybody’s got one, and some are bigger than others. Want to vent your spleen, grind an axe, spew bile, vomit green ink (look it up) or otherwise actively use your First Amendment rights? Awesome! As long as it’s not frankly libelous or slanderous, so long as it’s your OPINION, it should be fair game, assuming it’s not frankly insane…and as Editor, making the “insane” call would fall on me.

I am somewhat qualified to make that particular call, after all.

I made it known that, as Editor, I would insist on the freedom to publish on a wide range of topics. Despite the name of the site, and its obvious focus on Alabama Politics, Alabama is only one State (big-S, sovereign State; yes, I’m one of THOSE) among fifty. The fates of the other 49, and the Union in which they participate, are inextricably bound. Regardless of what you believe about the proper scope of government at all levels, it is undeniably true that politics affects EVERYTHING these days. Therefore, anything and everything is fair game for this site.

Finally, I made it clear that I had no interest in running a “pay-to-play” site. Ultimately, this site will begin selling ads (one fervently hopes) but ad buys, support to the site and other considerations should not be a factor when considering what is Big-N News, and what News is or is not reported. News is News, regardless; the readers of this site should merit no less. The Powers That Be weren’t particularly happy about that, nor the raised Eyebrow of Doom(™) I gave them…but they (mostly) got over it.

As far as Opinions go, well…some are bigger than others. Who’s bought me a cup of coffee lately?

Eventually, an agreement was reached—God help you all—and here we are. 1,000 posts achieved. A few egos bruised, a few posteriors hurt, and a few eyes opened, I hope. There have been a few bobbles along the way, as one would expect. Everything has a learning curve, and 1,000 articles is barely enough to start climbing that experiential hill.

Nonetheless, 1,000 posts isn’t anything to sneeze at.

Now, we just have to look to the next 1,000, and beyond.

Opinions do not reflect the views and opinions of ALPolitics.com. ALPolitics.com makes no claims nor assumes any responsibility for the information and opinions expressed above.