Why D-Day Enterprises Is Independent

This is a wank of a post from Jennifer Palmieri (who I think I met at the first Yearly Kos). Matt Yglesias, whose blog sits on the website of the Center for American Progress, wrote a critical post of Third Way accusing them of, among other things, "hyper-timid incrementalist bullshit." Palmieri steps in like a manager on a customer service line interrupting to say "disconnect the call!"

Most readers know that the views expressed on Matt’s blog are his own and don’t always reflect the views of the Center for American Progress Action Fund. Such is the case with regard to Matt’s comments about Third Way. Our institution has partnered with Third Way on a number of important projects - including a homeland security transition project - and have a great deal of respect for their critical thinking and excellent work product. They are key leaders in the progressive movement and we look forward to working with them in the future.

You have to be kidding me. While I don't think this will chill Matt's free speech or anything, the idea of this uber-watcher with the ability to jump in on your site and refute anything you might say is kind of terrifying. I'm sure there's some CAP donor who is also heavily involved with Third Way who went ballistic at something someone wrote on the Internet and decided to get mad about it, prompting the make-good post from the hall monitor. How pathetic.

It is hard, bordering on impossible, to make a living at blogging. The best option is to partner with a larger institution like a think tank or a magazine. At the same time, such a partnership does have an effect on the writing, whether unconscious or when your boss butts in with a CYA post. I personally don't think I could put up with such constraints on editorial freedom. But then again, I have another job.