Update

I am sorry that I have been MIA all day.  I had a doctor appt. out of town that had been scheduled for months and then enjoyed a visit from my mom who came to help lift the spirits of my little fever girl.  Anyway, it has been kinda nice to be away from the computer all day, but after reading some of the comments here and at other blogs, there are a few things I wish I had said earlier.

I want to make it clear that in spite of what happened last night,  I very much appreciate all the opportunities that Polipundit provided me.  He was always very honest and open with us and I think always dealt fairly.  Until this issue, which is extremely near and dear to his heart, and which is a very important problem facing the country, he has been extremely liberal in his policies regarding what we could say (pretty much anything) and in his comments sections.  He has always been for allowing everyone to speak their minds, no matter how tedious or repetitive or obnoxious.  He would let us delete profanity or threats, but other than that, anything went.  That may be the reason his editorial change came as such a surprise.  It is his site and I can understand his desire to not have to do battle with his fellow bloggers, although I think a better solution could have been found.

When I posted my goodbye last night it was in a rush under less than ideal conditions.  I chose to quote two statements from Poli's emails to explain the reason I was leaving, but did not quote any of the discussion that took place in the emails.  Until I received the second message saying "it's over" I had not planned to post anything.  After receiving that email I considered paraphrasing the new editorial change, but feared I would be accused of mischaracterization.  I decided to post those two statements verbatim to explain the reason I believed I had no choice but to leave.  In retrospect, I wish I had paraphrased them, but don't know that things would have played out any better if I had.

Polipundit gave me a wonderful opportunity and I will be eternally grateful. He always dealt honestly and fairly with me. I wish him only the best, especially in his desire to "change the world" through his blogging.  I think he already has.

Comments

[Irish42]

I am adding you to my list. I think POli's behaviour on this subject has been worse than unforgivable. YOu can be passionate on an issue without being a jerk.

I will read you with interest now and in the future, I will never again be visiting Polipundit.

[Congress Bob]

I AM FOREVER A LOYAL FAN OF YOUR SITE AND POLIPUNDIOT WILL CRASH AND BURN WITH OUT YOU AND THE OTHER GUEST BLOGGERS!!!!!!!!!!!

BOYCOTT POLIPUNDIT!!!

[Albert Hodges]

You are still a class act....I was hanging around here to see what you thought of Idol?

[japh]

We were wondering how you were doing. Glad you are doing all right.
Well, personally I feel the breakup was long overdue.

I respect the President and even though I dont necessarily agree on the immigration issue with him, I still respect him and think he has done a tremendous amount for our country, starting with 9/11 and all the rest.

I think Poli went overboard with his vitriol and I was waiting for the other 4 bloggers to start a new site. Hopefully this is the first step.

[Luke]

For Heaven's sake Congress Bob THE CAP LOCK BUTTON ON YOUR KEYBOARD SHOULD BE ABOUT MID-WAY DOWN ON THE LEFT.

Please unlock the CAPS!!!!!!

[Luke]

Albert Hodges, re Idol; Elliot is gone, Taylor and the very lovely Catherine will be in the finals and............ hopefully Catherine wins, but Taylor might.

[Montrealer]

I've added your site to my list also Lorie.

[Montrealer]

I've added your site to my list also Lorie. Polipundit belongs on Kos.

[smh1012]

Lorie: What a generous and kind statement on your part. While this must be difficult for you, I am sure you can see already that you will have the support of many loyal readers. Put this behind you and look forward to next weeks 24 thread...it should be great. Until then, I know I'll be returning daily.

[Truzenzuzex]

It is for the best. Clearly Polipundit felt that he shouldn't have to defend his on reasoning (or in this case, outright vitriol) to guest bloggers. It is his blog, and he can do what he wants.

I found your posts to be reasonable and well considered. I can't say the same about many of your former host's comments, especially lately. One can disagree with the president without resorting to the Kossack-style invective Polipundit descended into. I understand he may be passionate about the subject of immigration, but passion does not excuse unethical behavior. His rude treatment of you and your co-guest bloggers was unethical on its face, and his passion, if anything, makes it even harder to countenance. To be fair to him, some of your co-blogger's comments were also unethical, and perhaps angered him. That doesn't excuse his treatment of you.

But I didn't come here to beat on Polipundit. I just wanted to say that I think you have behaved with class in a difficult situation. Unless Polipundit specifically requested you keep all the email discussions with you private, your quoting small and in-context portions of the emails were just as ethical as if you had summarized them, especially since they were provided as an explanation for your actions and not intended to shame or embarrass your host. For my money, his "editorial policy" post provided all the embarrassment he is likely to need for many months to come, courtesy of a painful fisking by people such as Ann Althouse (among others).

So, good luck to you. I have bookmarked your site for further reference. I hope to come back and enjoy your insightful commentary.

[Steve_in_Corona]

Lorie, rest assured I will not be posting here with "guess what is going on over at Polipundit" - with this one small exception.

He endorsed Democrat Nelson from Nebraska this morning (because of a "cover" vote for the red-state Dem in an election year) - this from the site that supposedly is CONSERVATIVE first.

When I tried to debate the lunacy of any conservative supporting someone who would vote Reid for majority leader, and who caucuses with Boxer, Kennedy, Leahy et al. - I was met with no significant rebuttal to my reasoning.

What I WAS hit with by a few posters was "I thought you guys were leaving here and not coming back"

Yes Lorie, sadly it IS over (over there) but not here. Over there will be a lonely, bitter echo chamber, and attract much hardcore annonymous anger in the comments.

I have NEVER come to your site until today. I have rarely had a day go by that I did NOT go to Polipundit (usually several times).

I doubt I am alone.

[Sam]

Like I said over at poli's site, this is DU.com stuff, if poli wants to censor his bloggers thats his business. But what I have read over there does not reflect well upon conservatives. It would be better to show loyalty through numbers than making asses of yourselves with childish remarks towards poli.

[japh]

And if someone wants to know what DU is all about,I would recommend this site.
http://dummiefunnies.blogspot.com/
What is sad is that Poli has almost descended to the level of the fringe lunatics on the left.

[ben]

I just checked Polipundit out to see if you guys really left...seeing only Polipundit posts I deleted the site from my bookmarks...I noticed some people were still trying to invoke some sanity...I admire them but it's over for me...too many good blogs around...I hope you will get together with the other bloggers and form the Exile Blog

[Big Mo]

Steve - Similar to you, Polipundit was my first or second stop every morning for the past several years. But starting tomorrow, it never will be again.

In the meantime, I think hard-right conservative bloggers and pundits have made a huge mistake in overestimating their influence here, and they don't like it. They got a taste of power and influnce during the 2004 election, then flexed their muscle over Harriet Miers. But they grossly overstepped their bounds with the ports deal, screwing Bush in a way that they really did not understand. Bush cultivated an important and key ally, but bloggers and pundits believed that THEY knew better, and stampted their feet and said "NO!"

Last night, Bush decided to ignore the "Pay attention to ME!!!" hissy fit thrown by the self-anointed keepers of the base and put forth a practical, sensible plan to deal with the prickly and contentious issue of illegal immigration.

Conservative bloggers screwed Bush twice, after ALL that he has done for them and the country, and I think he's quietly had enough. Besides, he's got too much to worry about and deal with-- like Iran, for instance--than to kowtow to the demands of pissant myopic Poli-Kossers who demand that he dance to their tune OR ELSE!!

I stand with the President. And it looks like 7 out of 10 Republicans do on this matter too, if the CNN and Zogby (ugh) polls are to be believed.

Like I said on the old, as-yet unhinged Poli site, conservatives don;t have th majority, Republicans do. And it is conservatives who will cost the GOP the majority this fall by forgetting the simple fact that politics often involves compromise and incrementalism. When you get greedy, you oftn wind up losing everything.

(I'll shut up now.)

[Adjoran]

Big Mo ~ I agree completely that center-right bloggers believe they have more power than they do, as a result of their several "successes" - Rathergate and the Swift Boaters were effective, while Dubai was absolutely wrongheaded, and with Miers we can never know. Plus they were making money off what they started as a hobby, being asked on cable and radio news shows . . . Remember Wolfe's protagonist, McCoy, in Bonfire of the Vanities? "Master of the Universe" . . . but that's not what happened to Poli.

I do see his escalation in fervor over the last few weeks and months as potentially troubling.

The sudden purge - even putting those like Lorie and D.J. who agreed in general with Poli's POV, and Jayson, who never really weighed in on the subject other than posting some examples of Bush sucesses at enforcement, in a position where they almost had to leave to maintain their integrity - reeks of paranoia, especially the rancor over having terms quoted. Hey, you can't fire people and then expect them to keep it a secret for a few days.

Lorie's graciousness in acknowledging her past at PP and his help in getting her started shows her class. If Poli had spoken as respectfully about the President, the whole spiraling series of posts and events might have been avoided.

[A liberal who frequents polipundit]

Hi,

I just wanted to drop a line and say that while your final post on Poli's site was one of the most noble I've seen in a while, it was also one of the saddest. I wish you luck and I have replaced poli's site with yours and the others in my bookmarks.

[Beth]

Big Mo - I think you hit it right on the head with your comments about Miers/Dubai. People wanted another (hollow) "victory." It's pure selfishness. How often do you see blogs actually advocating FOR something? Rarely. Some of the blogs have become that which they hate.

Lorie, I've said it before and I'll say it again--you're a rare and persuasive voice of reason among the "new media." Your graciousness in this crazy situation is admirable; most people would probably not be as forgiving so soon. Anyway, just know you've got a huge number of people in your cheering section.

[Tari]

Lorie,

I think you were wrong to publicly post Polipundit's email contents. I'm glad you sort of apologized because although I think Poli went off the nut and was ridiculous in his behaviour, that was a sticking point for me.

I'll be a loyal reader of yours, as always. I appreciate your perspective!

[Flint]

Lorie,

I think that it was o.k. for you to post the two snippets from Poli's email.

I think that you needed to do that in order to put everything into context. If you didn't put it into context, then Poli would be able to say whatever he wanted about the issue.

I think Poli is upset about it because it, understandably, makes him look like a dictator.