by Frank James and Mark Silva
Nearly two years ago, the Tribune launched The Swamp as a new way of reporting on Washington and invited readers to comment. And so you have.
The 100,000th comment has been posted in The Swamp -- it arrived after dark last night -- and the next 100,000 is under way.
Not all who read these pages pause to comment on them. We recorded nearly 800,000 "page views'' by online surfers here in The Swamp in September alone.
We thank those who spend some time here, and we thank those who leave their thoughts with us before moving on. We also note that, with Nos. 100,000 and 100,001 alone, we have captured some of the flavor of what makes The Swamp smolder on controversial matters and what makes it more reflective at quieter times. We'll take the heat with the reflection....
This was the 100,000th comment posted, just after 9:06 pm EDT last night. It came from a poster whom we haven't seen before, at least not writing with this handle, and it arrived in a controversial posting about Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid calling out radio commentator Rush Limbaugh for his comment about "phony soldiers.'' So it's fitting, perhaps, that No. 100,000 carried a certain edge to it. The commenter "Rude'' wrote:
"Rush insulted Michael J Fox, accusing him of faking his illness, how over the top. He called rocker Jerrry Garcia "another dead doper", before he himself was busted. He called troops against the war 'Phony" then he manipulated his transcripts to make it appear as though he was talking about Jesse MacBeth who served more military and jail time than Rush. his followers gladly call themselves ditto heads in honor of believing every lie he spews. ''
And then, soon afterward, this was the 100,001st comment posted in The Swamp. It came from Kenny Bunkport, whom, we are happy to say, is a regular contributor to these columns.
It's simply lyrical, if borrowed, and it bespeaks of a certain hope for the next 100,000:
"Get Together"
The Youngbloods
Love is but the song we sing,
And fear's the way we die
You can make the mountains ring
Or make the angels cry
Know the dove is on the wing
And you need not know why
C'mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev'rybody get together
Try and love one another right now
Some will come and some will go
We shall surely pass
When the one that left us here
Returns for us at last
We are but a moments sunlight
Fading in the grass
C'mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev'rybody get together
Try and love one another right now
If you hear the song I sing,
You must understand
You hold the key to love and fear
All in your trembling hand
Just one key unlocks them both
It's there at your command
C'mon people now,
Smile on your brother
Ev'rybody get together
Try and love one another right now
Right now
Right now!
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Comments
Mark Silva,
You're not supposed to use big words like "bespeak". They make John E's head hurt.
Posted by: Really, aren't we all Anonymous? | October 2, 2007 6:56 AM
"Eighty percent of success is showing up."
Woody Allen
Posted by: Logic Prisoner | October 2, 2007 8:58 AM
I wonder if a conservative Swamper was the 100,000th or 100,001 poster, if Mark Silva would write, "happy to say is a regular ocntributor to these columns"?
Or heaven forbid, if it was John E???
Posted by: John D | October 2, 2007 9:26 AM
Freedom of speech, just watch what you say!
Posted by: Ice-T | October 2, 2007 9:31 AM
Bart simpson was forced to write on the blackboard "N" times "I will not celebrate meaningless milestones". I only mention this because somebody made a big deal out of hitting their 100000th comment lately.
"The entire neocon movement is dedicated to revoking mcgrew's posting priviliges. This is why we went to war with Iraq." -LilDebbie, kuro5ion.org (2003)
Posted by: steve | October 2, 2007 9:51 AM
With some fast math, this works out to about 160 comments per day. Assuming 10 articles per day, that makes about 16 comments per article.
Is this about what the Tribune expected?
Posted by: Bruce | October 2, 2007 9:59 AM
John D....do you think everybody is out to get you? The only thing to fear, is fear itself.
Posted by: bill r. | October 2, 2007 10:05 AM
Sour grapes Bruce?
Posted by: bill r. | October 2, 2007 10:10 AM
Bruce = Huckster.
Posted by: Hillary Fan | October 2, 2007 11:41 AM
Bill R., please explain how Bruce's comment is sour grapes? Looks to me like he is inquiring if the Trib expected an average of 16 comments per Swamp item?
And Bill R., how exactly do you get "everyone is out to get me" with my post? I'm just asking a question AND tweaking ole Mark just a little bit. Don't take everything so seriously, dude!
Posted by: John D | October 2, 2007 11:48 AM
The Tribune really didn't know what to expect when it launched The Swamp. I can tell you that I and others at the Tribune who work at it are pleased that so many people have found it, and that so many have commented on it. The number of people who pause to comment is far less than the number who read it. Some postings attract far more commentary than others. Averages, in this case, are as meaningless as counting the numbers of words in a story. We're thrilled that so many are following the Swamp -- including those who return day in and day out with criticism for us.
Posted by: Mark Silva | October 2, 2007 11:55 AM
"Averages, in this case, are as meaningless as counting the numbers of words in a story."
A fantastic subtle dig at Brucebot's incessant whining. Did Mr. Silva devote enough words to your team today, Bruce?
Posted by: Distrust and Verify | October 2, 2007 12:13 PM
With some fast math, this works out to about 160 comments per day. Assuming 10 articles per day, that makes about 16 comments per article.
Is this about what the Tribune expected?
Posted by: Bruce | October 2, 2007 9:59 AM
Yea I've got an answer... Uh, What???
Posted by: the caveman | October 2, 2007 12:38 PM
It would be nice if you could have a search function dedicated to just the Swamp; it would make it easier and quicker to find historical threads.
(Swamp note: There is a search engine for the Swamp in the upper right hand corner of the page. Try it.)
Posted by: BC | October 2, 2007 2:03 PM
Mark, please don't consider BC's request. Good Lord, he'll be searching through old Swamps like there is no tomorrow. Heck, in 2020, he'll still be fixated on John Edwards and his expensive suits, links to support that John Edwards buys expensive suits (Men's Vogue feature isn't good enough for him because he believes when a high-falutin clothing and high-fashion publication like Vogue refers to someone buying only imported suits he thinks that can mean the ones made in China and sold at Wal-Mart) and heaven knows what else BC would do.
And, Mark, I know in here you said you were pleased so many found the Swamp and take the time to comment, but you didn't seem so pleased on Saturday?!?!?!?! :)
Posted by: John D | October 2, 2007 2:46 PM
Congarts to Kenny B and his borrowed great lyrics and words to live by.
Keep representing Kenny, the "Homies" are a proud bunch!
Posted by: John E | October 2, 2007 4:12 PM
For those of you who are new to the Swamp and you're wondering why this Bruce guy is always crying, here's your answer.
This is RNC Bruce's FIRST EVER SWAMP POST:
In the interests of full disclosure, will the Tribune contributors to "the Swamp" (Frank James, Mark Silva et al.) reveal their political biases by disclosing who they voted for in 2000 and 2004 (and other years) for president? How can the readers fully or accurately assess their postings, the "take" they have on current events, or even what they consider "newsworthy", without this information?
Posted by: Bruce | January 5, 2006 9:55 AM"
Posted by: John E | October 2, 2007 4:17 PM
Wow! John E., I always knew you were the King of the Loons, but to actually save or spend the tome to search someone's first post is beyond bizarre, beyond weird, beyond normal and beyond being just plain sick!
Dude, really, go get some help!!
Posted by: John D | October 2, 2007 4:33 PM
Hi-
How about the slogan for the Cubs " Next Year Is Here? What perfect words for the fans. I invented it years ago. David Stein
Chicago
773-519-9048
Posted by: David Stein | October 2, 2007 6:03 PM
What was the problem with Bruce's comment? The lefties here don't read, they just look for the names of anyone that usually disagrees with them and assume they need to argue or attack.
Posted by: Brian | October 2, 2007 9:07 PM
5,000 of the comments came from the Math Whiz 2 X 0 = 1
Posted by: Terry | October 3, 2007 7:05 PM
DAvid,
How about another slogan: "Hey, every team has a bad century every now and then"
Posted by: Terry | October 3, 2007 8:48 PM