Apparently I’m Somebody

by Erick on October 30, 2007

The largest newspaper in Britain has declared me the 69th most influential conservative in the United States.

Clearly they overestimate me. Neither Michael Savage nor I deserve to be in the top 100, but I’m willing to take it.

[UPDATE:] Thanks Andy.

{ 48 comments }

drjay 10.30.07 at 9:32 am

don’t be so modest –you epitomize the power of the new internet afterall…and unlike the troll at number 80–you are an almost elected official to boot

SpaceyG 10.30.07 at 9:45 am

Hello!!!! But how do you rank in GEORGIA??? This is a GEORGIA blog, right. Issues of global significance have no place here. That’s what the toddlers keep whining about on my posts at least.

Seriously, that’s cool Erick. If you actually enjoy being labeled a conservative. Of course I’d rather pull my toenails out slowly one by one, but I’m happy and proud for YOU — where of course all our attentions should always be focused.

ChuckEaton 10.30.07 at 9:47 am

I see that you were 2 slots more influential than Chuck Norris.

Erick 10.30.07 at 9:47 am

The immature me is just delighted to be a sixty-nine!!!!!

shep1975 10.30.07 at 9:48 am

A prophet is never respected in his own home town (or state for that matter). Maybe now the Georgia Trend people will take notice.

Congrats Erick!!!!

drjay 10.30.07 at 9:49 am

well–its obviously different when its one of your posts spacey…

SpaceyG 10.30.07 at 9:50 am

A print outlet based in Georgia even realize there is a blogosphere yet????? Shep, you are crackin’ me way the you-know-what UP!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! ROFL!!!!!

Andisheh Nouraee 10.30.07 at 9:50 am

Erick didn’t beat Chuck Norris. Chuck Norris allows Erick to be two places ahead him.

shep1975 10.30.07 at 9:51 am

Apparently he’s also more influential than Ann Coulter, Jeb Bush and Clarence Thomas.

GAWire 10.30.07 at 9:54 am

Wow, ahead of Krauthamer AND Buchanan, not to mention Gary Bauer. Haha … nice.

SpaceyG 10.30.07 at 9:56 am

Does Clarence Thomas have a blog? He could really “connect with America” if he drove around in an RV blogging. At the same time.

ChuckEaton 10.30.07 at 9:57 am

The irony is most people who are ideologically to the right don’t mind being called a conservative - it’s typicaly a badge of honor, but if you’re to the left and want to get elected the word “liberal” is treated like the plague. The new euphemism is “progressive” - that speaks volumes about the two philosophies.

Even the “darling of the left” Hillary runs from the term - taken from the UK article Erick was mentioned in:

To qualify for the lists, people have to live and work in the United States. conservatives are people identifiably

SpaceyG 10.30.07 at 10:07 am

Spelling the word “center”, even in a quote, as “centre” is a punishable offense on Peach Pundit, Chucky. I’m reporting you immediately to the ministry for your un-Georgian behavior. Erick too for linking to what is surely a media source run by flaming “liberals” and other societal abbhorents.

Andisheh Nouraee 10.30.07 at 10:08 am

Chuck-

Does it speak volumes about political philosophy, or about political branding and marketing. I think the latter.

Just to be clear, I’m addressing this to Chuck Eaton, not Chuck Norris. I would never dare disagree with Chuck Norris.

rugby_fan 10.30.07 at 10:13 am

Chuck:

“compassionate conservative” immediately comes to mind.

Erick:

You have to admit, 69 is not a bad position to be in.

griftdrift 10.30.07 at 10:14 am

Chuck Norris determines whether you are liberal or conservative by beating sense into you.

thomaswheatley 10.30.07 at 10:22 am

Chuck Norris ain’t got nothin’ on Bill Brasky.

Congrats, Erick.

ChuckEaton 10.30.07 at 10:24 am

Andisheh-

I think most folks identify liberals as left of center and conservatives as right of center. So when someone runs from the term “liberal” it’s running from the identification for being to the left of center. If they want to use the word “progressive” as a new brand then fine, but once the public catches on they’ll be searching for a new euphemism.

If this is not the case then what is it that liberals have been unfairly branded with?

Just to be clear, my first name is used in honor of Chuck Norris.

ChuckEaton 10.30.07 at 10:30 am

rugby-

No question “compassionate conservative” was a euphemism, although “conservative” was kept in the brand and it’s a term used by a minority.

But you have to admit, there are a lot more conservatives willing to wear the “conservative badge” proudly than liberals wearing the “liberal badge”. Democrat candidates are so terrified of the term “liberal” you can’t even get the top 3 candidates in a primary to use the term to describe themselves.

rugby_fan 10.30.07 at 10:30 am

Chuck:

Please explain why George W. Bush also ran away from the conservative label in 2000.

ChuckEaton 10.30.07 at 10:40 am

Rugby-

I don’t think Bush ran away from the conservative label at all. He used it in his “compassionate conservative” description - which is to me is redundant.

And he sure didn’t have a problem with the term during the primary.

I think the problem is you’re using Bush as an example of all national republican figures.

I can find you plenty of top tier GOP candidates currently running for President begging to be labeled a conservative, why don’t you find me one top tier Dem candidate for President willing to be labeled a liberal? Edwards is on the edge because he’s trying to get some traction and has become increasingly socialist with his proposals - but I’m not sure if even he would go so far out on the edge as to call himself a “liberal”.

Obviously there are tight regional pockets in this country were the term liberal is popular. I’m sure there has been an occasion when Pelosi has used the term in San Fransico.

Rogue109 10.30.07 at 10:46 am

“That

Rick Day 10.30.07 at 11:05 am

problem is, due to the implosion of the party over BushCo ™ there are only about 120 people who call themselves ‘conservatives’ anymore.

“Independent” is the new cool label, conservative is out with Nancy Reagan’s hairstyle.

S’rsly, congrats. I think.

shep1975 10.30.07 at 11:18 am

Erick’s liberal counterpart at the 69 position is Tom Daschle.

Donkey Kong 10.30.07 at 11:18 am

I think the greatest part of all this is that Erick is ranked higher than Ron Paul, who is ranked #96!!!

SpaceyG 10.30.07 at 11:24 am

69 was always a grossly overrated, uh, number, Erick.

SpaceyG 10.30.07 at 11:25 am

Rogue, call me when you’re 69 anything. I gotta go get my nails done. As Sen. Eric Johnson would say, I’m outta here…

thomaswheatley 10.30.07 at 12:04 pm

Rick Day,

I felt the lowest of the low when someone told me my Lego-man/helmet haircut looked very “Nancy Reagan.” Not a good feeling. I never let my coif fall into that style again.

Donkey Kong 10.30.07 at 12:06 pm

Rick,

It tends to be more of a “I thought I was conservative, but if Bush is a conservative, I don’t want to be one too.”

I will proudly wear the label conservative until death. Even after death, I plan to hang a poster of Ronald Reagan and Barry Goldwater on the walls of my house when we receive the new heavens and the new earth ages hence.

SpaceyG 10.30.07 at 12:33 pm

DK = good Drama King material.

Dave 10.30.07 at 12:40 pm

“Overrated,” Spacey? You poor thing…

IndyInjun 10.30.07 at 12:46 pm

Conservative, no.

GOP partisan hack, yes.

Bill Simon 10.30.07 at 12:52 pm

Congrats to Erick! Now he doesn’t have to wait for the new phone books to arrive before he’s “somebody.”

Holly 10.30.07 at 1:03 pm

Congrats on making this list, Erick. I gotta say, though, the ratings are odd. Love ya, Erick, but I think Henry Kissinger is more influental, even still.

Rogue109 10.30.07 at 6:23 pm

“Rogue, call me when you

StevePerkins 10.30.07 at 7:15 pm

This is a strange list of “conservatives’! Screw this “left-of-center, right-of-center” distinction… apparently those wacky Brits define conservatives as “Christians who love big government”, and liberals as “Agnostics who love big government”.

Congrats, regardless.

StevePerkins 10.30.07 at 7:24 pm

I just made a weird observation. About 80% of the people on the liberal list have photographs showing beaming smiles. Meanwhile, about 80% of the conservative photos feature either evil scowls like Emperor Palpatine, or else looks of constipation severe enough to warrant medical treatment.

I would suggest media bias here… but then again, Senator Murtha’s photo is bad enough to trump the entire conservative list singlehandedly!

Jace Walden 10.30.07 at 7:37 pm

DK,

I still think it says about Ron Paul that he is even listed as one of the most influential conservatives in America.

Holly 10.30.07 at 7:40 pm

Steve, the British ideals of conservatism would likely be different than ours because they are a socialist society, right? I’m just guessing there.

Also, I think it’s fair to say there’s a media bias in British papers. From what I’ve observed, it’s only American media that seems to be concerned with avoiding slants.

Holly 10.30.07 at 7:41 pm

That seem, rather.

GodHatesTrash 10.30.07 at 8:33 pm

SpaceGirl, you need to broaden your horizons. Them southron boys you been hanging with don’t know how to have sex without a milk stool.

Besides, that whole “soixante-neuf” is a French thing, and you know how much those rednecks hate anything French…

Donkey Kong 10.30.07 at 9:13 pm

Hey now, the Brits have a solid contingent of good conservatives. David Cameron is leading the Tories back to prominence. And, speaking of the new media, check out , a great conservative British media site.

Donkey Kong 10.30.07 at 9:28 pm

Oops, missing link:

http://www.18doughtystreet.com

shep1975 10.31.07 at 9:34 am

41-60 is now out and they have Joe Lieberman on the conservative list between Novak and Bill Kristol.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/main.jhtml?xml=/news/exclusions/uselection/nosplit/uscons41-60.xml

…and we can now confirm PJ O’ Rourke IS more influential than Erick.

shep1975 10.31.07 at 9:36 am

actually, they have Lieberman on the liberal list as well. I guess the Telegraph is as confused about Lieberman as we are.

ChuckEaton 10.31.07 at 9:44 am

Reagan made me a Republican, but Walker Texas Ranger made me a Conservative.

rugby_fan 10.31.07 at 9:48 am

Help me Erick Erickson, you’re my only hope.

shep1975 11.08.07 at 6:13 pm

With them all out, the only other “Georgia” to make the list was Newt at #4. Congrats again Erick!

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