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Thanks a Million!

Thanks a Million!

Sometime early yesterday morning, I received my one millionth visit. Eleven months and two weeks after my first post on October 12, 2008.

I hope the first million is the hardest. It has been mostly fun, but not easy.

When I started this blog, I really didn’t know what I was getting into. I took to the internet out of sheer frustration and alarm at the mass delusion gripping the nation in October 2008. The modern equivalent of the tulip mania from centuries ago. But instead of tulips, the nation was gripped with euphoric hysteria over Barack Obama.

After one particularly disturbing conversation with a friend, who seemed as if his mind had been snatched by Obamamania, I realized the situation was dire. Our pathetic mainstream media, having abdicated what little self-respect and professional responsibility it had left, gave me no hope that reason would prevail. So I went to the blogosphere to sound my little alarm.

My first post, Obama is Door No. 2, still is one of my favorites. I am proud to say that I was against Obamamania before it was cool to be against Obamamania. My conscience is clear, and I was right that tulips were just tulips.

So I created a blog. I wasn’t really sure what a blog was, and I didn’t spend much time reading blogs. I went to Google Blogger (proving beyond doubt that I didn’t know what I was doing), and I posted.

And then I learned lesson number one. No one really cared what I thought. So I posted some more. If not for my frequent visits to my own blog, I would have had no traffic at all.

Then thanks to Larrey Anderson and Thomas Lifson, American Thinker ran my article A Harvard Trial Lawyer for McCain, which in many ways was my breakthrough, getting my name out there. The article circulated through e-mail groups and posting boards, and went somewhat viral.

And then I experienced, just days after my first post, the joys of the internet. Hate mail. Mild, in comparison with what was to come, but shocking nonetheless. And all from people who claimed to be educated, enlightened liberals, telling me to shut my mouth.

Which was lesson number two, namely, that many highly-educated liberals are among the most intolerant, narrow-minded beings to inhabit the earth. I guess I already knew this, having lived most of my life around such people. But like most of us, in the past I kept my political mouth shut, so I never before experienced the wrath of the enlightened.

I didn’t start out this blog meaning to target liberal America, but liberal America targeted me early on, so I am returning the favor. And the left-wing nutroots have come into my focus as well, being what is left after the liberal sauce has been reduced.

Then lesson number three. The race card. My honesty in calling Obama what he was — an over-rated, TV-style lawyer — earned me the now-common distinction of being called a racist. One blog theme which I have developed by necessity is to fight against the pernicious and destructive use of false accusations of racism as a political tool. I hate the use of the race card because it twists the worst aspects of our history for political gain, drives people apart, and unravels so much of the racial progress we have made.

But it has not been all bad, and mostly has been good. I’ve met (electronically, that is) some really great people, made some online friends, and have had my eyes opened both to the resiliency of this nation and the intellectual threats which lurk at or below the surface.

I survived on this blog through the kindness of strangers. I could not have kept up the good spirits, and survived Blogger Mood Disorder, without the encouragement of and repeated links from Professor Glenn Reynolds and Honorary Professor Michelle Malkin. These are two people who are sufficiently successful that they don’t need to help struggling bloggers, but they do anyway.

There were others who offered early words of encouragement at a time when it was needed, including Claudia Rosett, William Katz, Prof. Darren Hutchinson, and Ron Coleman. It didn’t hurt to have two Grandmas on my side, as well.

And along the way, I marvelled at the generosity of the conservative blogosphere, including (but not limited to!!!), Ed Morrissey and Allahpundit at HotAir, Jim Hoft at Gateway Pundit, John Hawkins, Ace of Spades HQ, Robert Stacy McCain and Smitty at The Other McCain, Pam Geller, Doug Ross, Jules Crittendon, Dan Collins, Don Surber, Tim Blair from Down Under, Dan at GayPatriot, Patterico, Lance Burri, Moe Lane, Cythia at A Conservative Lesbian, Dan Riehl, Jeff at Protein Wisdom, Tom Maguire, JammieWearingFool, Sister Toldyah, The Anchoress, Pundette, Small Dead Animals, Jimmie Bise, all the Chicago bloggers who helped with my Blago coverage (Backyard Conservative, Marathon Pundit, Bill Baar, Illinois Review), Donald Douglas, Pat in Shreveport, Fausta Wertz, Little Miss Atilla, Bill Roggio at Long War Journal, and the folks at Real Clear Politics.

Not to fail to mention recent acquaintences such as Left Coast Rebel, NeoNeocon, Rosita, No Sheeples, Keith Burgess-Jackson, TigerHawk, Soccer Dad, Da Tech Guy, Another Black Conservative, Viking Pundit, The Stray Dog, Hugh Hewitt, and many, many others.

I’m not kidding, look at just about any of the blogs in the left sidebar and I owe each of them a thanks. I probably should not have listed anyone here, because I know I left so many people out.

And for every piece of garbage hate mail I get, I get far more kind notes and words of encouragement from the people I am proud to call my loyal readers.

Thanks to the repeat commenters, the Followers of this blog and my Twitter account, and the people who subscribe to my Facebook networked blog. Your votes of confidence are appreciated.

To those people, like John from Tennessee and that guy from Connecticut, and others who take it upon themselves to spread my links and my tweets (thanks Doug and others), your efforts are not forgotten.

Now comes the obligatory thanks to the wife: To my wife of 25 years, thanks for being patient (yes, honey, I’m coming to bed, no I’m not on the blog again, I’m just checking the weather, heh).

To this great country, you are worth fighting for. The people who think creeping socialism is cool don’t have a clue as to the deep damage they are doing. I will not shut up about it, will continue to post the truth about where we are heading, and will fight with every last electron to stop the decline of this nation at the hands of those lazy, handout-seeking, selfish fools who think everything we have earned came for free, that history began a decade ago, and that they are owed something.

What troubles me more than anything is that this government is stealing the future from my children, and my not-yet-conceived grandchildren. Such generational theft is unforgivable and will not be forgotten.

This is the fight of our lives for the benefit not of ourselves, but of future generations. Will our children and our children’s children have the freedom to make their own way in life, or will we relegate them to being beggars at the alter of government handouts?

This time, it really is all about the children, and our own legacy.

Will we be honored as the generation which finally said no to the welfare state and thereby saved the best economic and political system on earth, or will we be cursed by our descendants as the generation which gave it all away?

So the blog and the fight goes on. Thanks for reading.

——————————————–
Related Posts:
Thanks, and Happy New Year
“Blogospheric Neologian”
Add “Blogger Burnout” To The List Of Blogger Ailments
A Test For Internet Addiction Disorder – Take At Your Own Risk

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Comments

No, thank YOU!

I'm proud to be one of your blogging buddies! Congratulations on One Million and I hope you are feeling better these days and over the flu!

Congratulations, William. A great blog. Many more millions to come!

Love your blog. Thanks. I'm sorry I didn't discover you sooner.

Great Blog, great anniversary post. Love lessons 1,2,3. Is there an ad hominem training camp somewhere for lesson 2 perps, or is it a naturally occurring fruit of the leftist unholy spirit?

Congratulations, William. Took me about 20 months to get the first million. Only another year or so for another three million. Keep up the good work.

Congratulations on your success! Geez, you're a fast learner – one million hits in less than a year ain't too shabby, especially considering you had little experience with blogs.

Thank you for doing what you're doing. You're fighting a good fight, and are a true asset to our side.

I will repeat Pat above, no THANK YOU! And congrats on your high mark, many more to come! Keep up the fantastic work at your site.

Many congratulations on your success! I shed a couple of tears over these words of yours:

"To this great country, you are worth fighting for. The people who think creeping socialism is cool don't have a clue as to the deep damage they are doing. I will not shut up about it, will continue to post the truth about where we are heading, and will fight with every last electron to stop the decline of this nation at the hands of those lazy, handout-seeking, selfish fools who think everything we have earned came for free, that history began a decade ago, and that they are owed something."

This is the "fight of our lives." Thanks for doing your part so well. No need to tell you to keep up the good work.

Jill

Congratulations. I really enjoy your blog and perspective.

Congratulations. Here's hoping for millions more!

I started my own blog after reading yours, and I know that you've inspired many others (including even those in the Ithaca area) to get up, become more involved, and speak out.

Thank you for the sanity, clarity and class you offer, even during the apex of the more heated issues (something exceedingly rare on both sides of the political spectrum).

Congratulations!

You've been holding high a lantern whose light has brightened dark days for so many. Maybe someday I'll bump into you in the "City of Free Speech" so that I can tell you in person what a pleasure it has been to read your blog every day.

And thanks for your support, without which, I am sure, I would be the lone reader of my own blog.

Greetings from The Netherlands. I read your blog every day, it's one of the best that I've found.

(Don't let the "Miss" fool you, I'm a guy.)

You are simply the best! Congratulations!

Wow, in less than a year. Thanks a million for the help you've given me, along with the new found hope in this post. I had long thought you had been blogging for years. Congratulations on reaching this milestone. You have earned every bit of your success.

Good on ya Mate! I've linked in too. A Million Hits??!?! Wow! Never hit that before.

Anyways… COngrads and Keep 'er up!

-Pat

Congratulations Will! I would not be the least bit surprised if you made 2,000,000 in less time!
Keep up the excellent work.

PS. Thanks for the mention, it is an honor to have made your blog roll!

Clifton B
Another Black Conservative

William – you have one high-quality blog here. I enjoy reading your posts often. Congrats on your first million hits, with many more surely to come!

-Chris

Congrats Prof. Godspeed.

I will say to you, Proffather, what I've said to others who've crossed the same mark: may your second million, be a masculine million. Te' Salute!

Quoted from and linked to at:
THE IN-SUR-REC-TION IS A SUCCESS!…The Le-gal one, that is.

This is a fantastic blog, one of my first stops every day. Please keep up the good work, Professor!

and William the threat is not just to your country. It is also a threat to mine. We have just as big a fool as Prime Minister, KRUDD (Kevin Rudd aka KRUDD)…. this fool snivels up to Obama…. and he is taking us down the same path…. not as fast as what Gough Whitlam tried but he is doing it anyway….

I come back to your blog every day.

Congrats on your first million and here's to a million more!

Congratulations, William, on a landmark achievement.

I try to read your blog every day and I'm not surprised with your success. Congratulations.

I discovered your blog after moving to Ithaca three months ago. You have inspired me to start my own. I am just a beginner and the topic may not be as cool, but lets see what happens.

Congratulations

Congratulations! You definitely earned it, and you most certainly deserve it. 🙂

Hey, Professor, great work. Congratulations.

There are at least of few Democrats out here, like me, who appreciate your work. Your blog is always compelling. You've taken on some tough topics in original ways, rather than just repeat what you read somewhere else in the blogosphere, which is unfortunately what all too many bloggers do. That's one reason why Legal Insurrection ought to be a must-read for everyone of every political persuasion. It is for me.

Belated Congratulations!

What a great way to start off the (Jewish) New Year.

Thank you for adding me to your Blogroll. Something to note: I am in the midst of dealing with Government Run health care NOW.

I don't have the theoretical "What if's?" of problems, I am encountering them for real.

Because of this, I am more determined then ever to stop the Left from ever promoting this idea ever again.

Congrats Professor. If I were in NY I might take up my wife's advice and study law (or I could just stay in NC and study under Mike Adams).