Comments on: Live Blogging Obama’s Press Conference

By: Jeff

Jeff — Fri, 28 May 2010 04:42:59 +0000

The Republican members of the Senate Judiciary Committee are asking Atty. Gen. Holder to investigate the Sestak job offer, so I’m guessing Pres. Obama punted that question for legal reasons, to say nothing of political ones.

By: Matthew Dickinson

Matthew Dickinson — Thu, 27 May 2010 19:09:58 +0000

George – I apologize if my tone sounds condescending. I certainly don’t know enough to justify adopting that attitude! And you are undoubtedly correct that many of my posts aren’t much more than one might get from a well-informed (or perhaps not well informed) columnist. In areas where the political science literature is thin (which, alas, is many more than I’d like) I am often forced to write more impressionistically than I’d like. But you shouldn’t sit back and suffer through mediocre posts by me – you should call me on it. In fact you just did. However, why not do so more directly, in the context of a specific posting. Some of the best exchanges (and some of my better posts) come in response to readers’ comments, many of them critical. This is an open forum, with all input welcome. If you can raise the level of discourse here, by all means do so – we’ve a great set of regular posters here, and I learn from all of them. I can’t promise that I’ll always match the quality of the comments, but I’ll give it a shot.

As for posting less frequently (but perhaps more in depth) – you’ll see that happen quite frequently when I’m on deadline on a book chapter or article. I’ve gone weeks without posting. Invariably I am asked: why aren’t you posting more? I’m sure there’s a happy medium there somewhere. I trust you and other readers to let me know where it is.

Matt

By: Matthew Dickinson

Matthew Dickinson — Thu, 27 May 2010 18:36:08 +0000

George,

My guess is you are new to the site. Welcome! Periodically we live blog – typically with audience participation – newsworthy events, such as press conferences and speeches. The goal is to give a running commentary from the perspective of the average citizen who might also be watching. Obviously this type of instant analysis doesn’t lend itself to the in-depth research we (me and those who comment) try to bring to other topics, when we actually have time to get into the topic. On the other hand, the live blogs are a chance to have some fun and, I hope, to make some useful if off the cuff observations. Typically we get more participation in these sessions but this was a last minute decision to live blog a middle-of-the-day event. People with any sense are doing more productive things, like working. Or grading papers. Which is where I’m headed.

Stick around. You’ll get your share of social science on this site. Trust me. (Or don’t – just look at previous posts). And try submitting some comments yourself. Note that banal comments are more than welcome!

matt