Category Archives: RBBS

Offering and Rebuff, Part II: Ali Akbar’s Napoleon Complex

Napoleon crowning himself emperor.

When we last looked in on convicted felon Ali Akbar, he was bathing in butthurt and hiding behind cheap shots over yet another round of unanswered questions concerning his fundraising practices in regard to the National Bloggers Club.

Unfortunately for our one-time incarcerated and now self-proclaimed intrepid warrior, the big bad meanies have yet to kneel before Zod. In fact, they’re something less than amused by Akbar’s antics. What to do, what to do.

First, hide behind your enablers. Speaking of such, Stacy, I’d like to thank you for the consolatory note over my brother passing away. I’d like to, but since unlike Michelle Malkin you haven’t bothered to send one guess I’m off the hook.

Second, let Akbar do what he does best. Namely, passive-aggressive mixed with playing the victim via multi-tweet tirades.

Unfortunately for the dear child, we can read them. And respond.

Remember Whom it is you serve.

YOU!!! Right, Akbar?

Correct and rebuke. A duty for all of those who are followers of Christ. Step outta line brothers and I’ll be there to slap you.

Right after I block you on Twitter and go cry on my enabler’s shoulders. Oh, and go out of my way to avoid you at all costs, instead having buddies send you obscene messages on my behalf. A true man of conviction, courage and action you are, oh mighty Akbar.

Doing something that makes me cringe: praying for Neal Rauhauser. I hope he finds redemption so he can keep from burning in Hell.

Not your call, now is it, kiddo.

Neal Rauhauser is looking for a causality on our side. Activity is up. I’ll make him go through me first. Come at me bro. #war

So anyone who dares to breathe a word against you is aligned with Rauhauser, eh Akbar? Ladd Ehlinger Jr.? Peter Ingemi? Larry Sinclair? Are they in cahoots with Rauhauser, Akbar? Am I? Are you really playing the “any enemy of mine is an ally of any other enemy of mine” game? You’re that pathetic, that out of defenses? Really?

Neal Rauhauser, tremble with your damned soul. #war #brettkimberlin

Again, wannabe preacher child… Not. Your. Call. Someone can be on the surface the most detestable piece of filth imaginable. God alone knows their heart, and He will deal with each of us according to our actions and thoughts. And in case it’s slipped your mind, Akbar, He really can’t stand the self-righteous.

His next two tweets were exchanges with someone on the Rauhauser side of things.

.@BreitbartUnmask tell Neal to dig harder and deeper. Oh, and the 40+ he emailed two days, not one response. My side is unified. Bitch.

Yeah, we all love you, Ali. You’re such a man’s man.

.@BreitbartUnmask and no one will be firing anyone until I say it’s okay. Welcome to my vast rightwing conspiracy. You don’t even realize.

Ooooh… until “I” say it’s okay? “My name is Akbar Ozymandias, king of kings: Look on my works, ye Mighty, and despair!”

Next there was a litany of Brett Kimberlin and Neal Rauhauser’s misdeeds, capped by:

God gives men a moral obligation and authority to defend their families. Be on notice Neal Rauhauser and #BrettKimberlin. Bastards.

The “defend their families” refers to how assorted and often sordid hardcore leftist blogs printed Akbar’s mother’s address with picture… this after the genius listed it in publicly available documents as the National Bloggers Club’s headquarters address. Smooth move, son.

I’ll keep raising money from the biggest voices in the movement to expose you Neal Rauhauser. And I’m just a poor ol’ felon.

Who didn’t admit he was a felon until he was outed by the aforementioned hardcore leftist blogs using, again, publicly available information. And, even when he did, soft-pedaled his crimes to the point of dishonesty about that for which he was charged and convicted in a court of law. Also, note the thinly disguised “see how important I am” flavored with a dash of “pay no attention to my detractors on the right — they’re nobodies!”

My side believes in content of character, in redemption, in sin. Neal Rauhauser does not. He can’t get why the right embraces me.

That’s your problem, Akbar. Some of us do believe in content of character, redemption and sin. Which is why we oppose you. We don’t all embrace you. Or are you saying in your usual weakling passive-aggressive manner that people who don’t embrace (yuck) you aren’t on the right? Is that what you’re trying to say, Akbar?

After some more bloviating about Rauhauser — because, you know, he’s the only person on the face of the planet who doesn’t wuv wittle Ali-Wali to itsy bitsy pieces — concluding with dropping some F-bombs, Akbar continues:

Christians cuss. If you’re hung up on that, I can probably run doctrinal circles around you too. Get outta my way.

Do try to run doctrinal circles around me, child. Please. I can use a good laugh. And no, we’re not getting out of your way.

#BrettKimberlin came after me because 1) I raised money for people he was suing, and 2) He wants a copy of my emails. “Movement secrets”

“I’m IMPORTANT!!!”

When #BrettKimberlin, @BreitbartUnmask, and Neal Rauhauser were done beating me up. I was bloody. Strange thing happened: I didn’t die.

Oh you mighty martyr you, bravely withstanding the trials of… publicly available information. Talk about beating being burned at the stake a mile!

Akbar, get down from your cross. All they did — all they did — was expose the truth about your past. Those big meanies. (For the record, I believe Kimberlin, Rauhauser and associates are the scum of the earth and masters of underhanded, disgusting and despicable acts against those they perceive as enemies. In this case, they printed publicly available information. Rude? Perhaps. But we all know how to use Google.)

Instead, the right provided an out-pouring of love, support, and built a wall making it to where I cannot fall. Beauty of my side.

“I” cannot fall, Akbar? Well, maybe as long as enablers allow you to hide behind them. Which won’t last, by the way.

I have access to more people who want to donate and help to conservative causes because #BrettKimberlin underestimated my resolve.

Yes, and your ability to con people. What exactly are you doing with that money, Akbar? Other than setting up websites selling Andrew Breitbart t-shirts to allegedly raise money for a scholarship fund… that the people in charge of such things never authorized and never even heard of, as Larry Sinclair reported:

In March 2012 we received an email which came from Bill Murphy and Ali Akbar from BlogBash.org and Vice and Victory email addresses announcing the creation of an Andrew Breitbart Scholarship Fund. After receiving the email, and because of our own personal encounters with Andrew, Sinclair News decided we would do a feature story on the Scholarship fund. In preparing the story we sent an email to Joel Pollak who was the primary Breitbart.com principle since the untimely death of Andrew early the morning of March 1, 2012. In the email to Mr. Pollak we asked if Pollak would be interested in going on Through the Mirror w/Larry Sinclair to talk about the recently established Breitbart Scholarship Fund. Pollak responded almost immediately by telling us he knew nothing of any such fund; that anyone using Andrew’s name along with any such fund was doing so without authorization and Pollak even went to the point of saying that any such organization was in his opinion a scam. (emphasis mine)

Back to Akbar:

Ppl ask me why I remain silent on much of the garbage Brooks/Kimberlin/Neal folks spread about me. B/c they don’t DESERVE to be my accusers.

“I am above reproach! No man can slander me! I am Emperor! No one can crown me, for they are not worthy! I’ll do it myself!”

And finally, Akbar says something truthful, albeit unintentionally:

Fear those armed with the truth. It packs a punch.

Yes, you sad sack little man. It does. And it’s coming for you.

So again, Akbar, I ask the questions:

Shall we review? You didn’t reveal anything about your criminal past until the Kimberlin/Rauhauser unholy alliance dug up your records. You then gave a half-confession. No, you didn’t just drive the car and chauffeur someone trying to use a stolen ATM card. You committed credit card fraud yourself, among other crimes.

Now, about the National Bloggers Club. The domain name nationalbloggersclub.com has been registered since March 2011. In case you haven’t noticed, there’s nothing at that address except a blank page and some poorly written code that, if it worked, would redirect a visitor to the NBC’s Facebook page. Eighteen months and you can’t assemble a website? Really, Ali? Really?

When Aaron Walker and Stacy McCain were attacked you were Johnny on the spot, announcing to one and all you were collecting donations for them through NBC. Great. Terrific. Good for you. I’m not being sarcastic; I sincerely mean that. You then chose the most invasive, personal and account information gathering site available to host the fundraising. What, PayPal was too complicated to engineer? Someone questions you on this, you go on the offensive rather than answer simple questions concerning why you went this route. Why is that, Ali?

You use this same tack whenever someone — anyone — asks questions about NBC. What are its bylaws? Does it have any? How do people apply? Who determines, and what is the process for determining, who gains membership?

We know Michelle Malkin is on the NBC’s board of directors. We don’t know the name of anyone else who is, or even if there is anyone else on the board. Or if there is a board, period.

Who gets what amount of the donations you’ve solicited through NBC for Walker, McCain and anyone else who may be receiving financial assistance? What kind of salary do you draw, if you draw one at all? Is there anyone else on the NBC payroll? Is there even a payroll? Is there an organization, or is it all you?

These aren’t unfair questions. They are very simple, basic questions spoken without malice or any agenda save that of telling the truth. And has already been noted, the truth has no agenda. It’s just the truth.

Just tell the truth, Ali. Stop the stonewalling; stop the Nathan Thurm routine. Stop running around the country hopping from conservative event to conservative event. Just tell the truth. Just. Tell. The. Truth.

If you can.

ADDENDUM: Thanks to Larry Sinclair (twice), The Other McCain and Crooks & Liars for the links.

Of Isaac, Rat Bastards and What Actually Matters

I rejoiced at hearing the news that Dan Collins’ father is pulling through his present medical crisis and appears to be on the road to recovery. The unfortunate fellowship doesn’t mind waiting as long as possible to reluctantly welcome new members.

It does put my mild case of butthurt stemming from looking at the fun happening to other people currently waiting out Isaac in Tampa, even as the parties continue unabated, in perspective. I’ve missed every other convention, collective and schmoozefest since the dawning of my modest political writing days; surely one more will not prove lethal. Still, it would be nice to attend one at least once, or at the very least have someone attending one say while they’re there “wish you were here.” Someone. Just one person. Once. Well, Stacy McCain did ask if I was coming to Tampa. So there’s that. That said, I note there will be no CPAC in Denver this October for me, and it’s 99 44/100% certain there will also be no CPAC at the main soiree in February 2013 at its new digs in National Harbor, Maryland. Ah well. Remind me to avoid Twitter for a couple of weeks that month. Or, write about faith and music more, since neither of those topics seem to have much in the way of conventions to miss.

My hardly fatal bruised feelings over being left out of the party (again) notwithstanding, it does rankle to see people I have no love lost for feted and featured at such gatherings (*coughaliakbarcough breath coughdanaloeschcough gasp coughmichellemalkincough wheeze coughkurtschlichtercough*). I really need to do something about that cough ASAP. Either get over it and let the Kool Kidz have their fun, which they’re going to do regardless since they don’t give a rat’s ass what this rat bastard thinks of them, or continue to be the one who at the end of the parade of the emperor’s new clothes calls out “but I don’t see anything!” Because frankly, when I look at Akbar, Loesch, Malkin, Schlichter and others, I see nothing. Certainly nothing worth worshiping. They are what they profess to oppose, and nothing in that is worthy of celebration. Only contemplation over what truly matters: conservative principles, or self-appointed leaders’ egos.

That all said, it would be good to be at the convention and experience it live; perhaps snatch a few interviews with people that matter, spend time actually listening to the big boys and girls rather than noting their words for the sole purpose of pontificating over said words. Thing is, they are the leaders of the free world. We bloggers? Not so much. Not even if you wrap yourself in Andrew Brietbart’s burial cloth. He was a giant. You and I? Not so much. He was a force of nature; a true leader, one who created what previously did not exist. You and I? We blaze no trails. We might make some of them smoother. We did not cut them through the liberal media wilderness.

But I digress; back to what truly matters: friends spared for now entrance into the unfortunate fellowship, others fighting wasting disease. These are the people that matter to me. I will stay and be happy with those who have loved us today.

Have fun in Tampa, people. I and my fellow RBBSers will be here when you come back down.

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Some Thoughts On The Recently Concluded BlogCon In Charlotte (From Someone Who Wasn’t There)

Sometime back in the ’70s, I read an issue of Guitar Player magazine with Carlos Santana as the cover story. This was back in his Devadip Carlos Santana days when he followed guru Sri Chinmoy, his picture always next to Santana’s monitors during live performances. Anyway, Santana told the story of attending an Elvin Bishop show and how his mix of good times blues and rock made him realize that the highest form (or level, or some such) of spirituality is joy. Santana concluded the observation by noting if he couldn’t have joy, then he didn’t care much for spirituality.

This came to mind earlier today when contemplating two seemingly disconnected events, one being the now concluded BlogCon in Charlotte and the other a blog post by Jennifer Dailing Waite detailing her frustration with, and anger toward, God over the daily sorrows she bears. She has very legitimate beefs: a father who passed away far too soon, her husband’s difficult and genuinely dangerous job others sneer at because he’s a government employee, a house that stubbornly refuses to sell leaving her and her family’s living arrangements in limbo, and a son mentally and emotionally kept away from her and everyone else as he’s locked up in autism’s mocking prison. It’s the latter that is sapping her strength and faith the most.

I call the two things disconnected because despite BlogCon being, at least in theory, all about promoting blogging and the blogging community while educating bloggers on how to do things better, a funny thing happened on the way to the forum. Based on tweets from those present, it was in fact an extended session of tongue baths, mutual admiration society sessions and as much partying as could be crammed into three nights and two days. Oh, and a lot of people claiming affiliation with Andrew Breitbart’s legacy.

Really?

As I mentioned the other day, although I never met nor spoke with Breitbart, based on numerous reports from those who did I have no doubt that had we ever met and actually conversed beyond a brief himynameis moment he would have taken the time to look up this modest little way station on the information superhighway and offered it, i.e. me, a hand up toward increased exposure. From his associates I’ve learned to expect no such thing. It’s a mixture of ironic and disappointing that the closest association I’ve ever had with anyone on Breitbart’s roster came when the Daily Beast linked to a post I wrote detailing Dana Loesch, in my opinion, behaving foolishly. There’s something about aggressively engaging your enemies yet not giving those on your side the time of day I’ve never quite fathomed. Perhaps it’s just me.

I’m hardly alone in this regard. There are many writers out there, truly superb writers, who deserve maximum exposure far, far more than I do yet never receive their just share. Either they don’t kiss the right ass (or don’t kiss at all), or they don’t go to the right parties… er, conferences, or what have you. Whatever the reason may be, they’re not welcome. As a result, the world to which we’re supposed to be communicating truth suffers.

Last night on Twitter, after having read one too many “look at me — SQUEE!” comments from BlogCom attendees I ranted: “I started blogging to express opinions, share information and communicate with people, not to join some eternal high school clique. Blogging’s purpose should be ‘what do you think of this idea, news, opinion or analysis.’ Not ‘look at MEEEEE!’ Blogging is supposed to be a non-hierarchical entity when people of like mind share with, and promote, each other based on common beliefs.” When I read Jennifer’s post this morning, these thoughts crystallized all the more.

There’s certainly nothing objectionable in people of like mind gathering together to share ideas and information along with enjoying one another’s company. And if some of us can’t go for financial reasons, or as in the case of Jennifer not able to leave family for a number of days, that’s life and there’s no sense in becoming angry. Hope everyone who is going has a great time; hopefully those of us not there will in time get a turn on the carousel. However, when what should be a group effort splinters into cliques making no effort to enrich the whole, there’s a problem. And no, pounding down brewskis in Stephen Kruiser’s hotel suite isn’t advancing the conservative cause or helping anyone not in attendance.

Of what use is a BlogCon, or RightOnline or what have you, to those not in attendance? Do they encourage attendees to reach out to those not there, letting them know blogging by people of like minds is an inclusive entity? Or are the fortunate hotel and convention center dwellers so busy consuming red meat and ego strokes in-between photo ops and pounding down shots they forget there is a community outside their door?

What it comes down to is that all people matter and many of them have something worthwhile to say, not just the ones who can afford a ticket to the party. When you’re feeling like mus adulteri Dei because you’re at wits and faith’s end, it’s difficult to not wonder if it’d kill people to put the drink down long enough to reach out to you. We may be rat bastards, but we still like to look at the city of lights and dream of one day being welcomed by its residents. So how about it?

The beautiful people, all send their excuses:
(Real estate and sex lives, livestock and ex-wives)

But the poor are coming, the lame are running
In their sleazy clothes and orthopedic shoes
There’s a harelip spokesman shouting out the news

“Come to the banquet at the world’s end!”

There’s a string ensemble, and the King’s court jester
Telling parables and big jokes, to mongoloids and old folks

The blind are seeing, the dead are breathing
And the mummies dance in geriatric style
The amputees are rolling down the aisles

“Come to the banquet at the world’s end!”

Candlelight and party hats, duck and pheasant under glass
Aluminum walkers, thin white canes, caviar and pink champagne
The bride and the groom waltz on
Club foot lane at the banquet at the world’s end
The banquet at the world’s end
The banquet at the world’s end

Say the beautiful people (the poor are coming)
“We’ll live with the lights out (the lame are running)
Leave us alone now because (the blind are seeing)
Hell feels like home now” (the dead are breathing)

Meanwhile…

But the poor are coming, the lame are running
In their sleazy clothes and orthopedic shoes
There’s a harelip spokesman shouting out the news

“Come to the banquet at the world’s end!”
“Come to the banquet at the world’s end!”
“Come to the banquet at the world’s end!”

rbbs588

RBBSers Of The World, Unite!

Attention bloggers!

Are you just not feeling the love from your fellow bloggers, or anyone else for that matter?

Barred from being a speaker at BlogCon?

Tossed out of Twitchy?

Denied press credentials for your local race track? (That would be me.)

Tired of searching for respect like a man dying of thirst crawling through the desert, occasionally thinking you’ve found a sustaining wellspring when in fact it’s nothing more than another cruel mirage?

Well, search no more! Be loud and proud! You are now a member of the most exclusive club in the blogosphere! Yes, you are a member of…

Tell your wife and children! While others fly around the country to pose with and preen for each other, you’re either at home or out pounding the news beat, writing intelligent dissertations on current events if in fact not directly reporting on them! For which to date your reward has been absolutely nothing! Never again!

Your reward (other than knowing you’re doing the right thing the right way — like that’ll ever get you anything) is membership in the gallery of the greats! The elites of the elite! Top of the pops! Number One with a bullet, baby! Just like the one others have shot into your career!

Let’s face it. We’re rat bastards. We might as well enjoy it.