As I’ve discussed with readers many times in the past, I frequently think about the direction in which to take this blog. For the most part reader feedback has been “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” and I’ve taken that feedback to heart.
No flashing lights here. Still just wandering around in the dark.
But, that said, it has been hard to keep up with events and issues to the extent I would like. I’m physically exhausted from these mid-term elections!
And since the next two years are going to be “hand-to-hand combat” according to at least one informed source, I’ve had to think through my ability to handle it all alone. The choice seemed to be pull back, or get help. Pulling back is not an option.
One of the things I have stayed away from in the past is having guest or co-bloggers. This is not a “group” blog. It’s all about me, just like what’s his name.
There is a certain pride in being one of the few remaining solo bloggers with a large following, which gets reflected not so much in traffic but in the number of blogs which link here. (Averaging about 150 separate websites which link to LI each month, per Wikio, not counting blogrolls.)
If I were to bring someone on board, it would have to be someone who was consistent with my political outlook but at the same time brought a different focus, dynamic, and readership profile. I also needed someone I trusted not to embarrass me (because only I am allowed to embarrass myself).
And I think I have found the first of such persons, Kathleen McCaffrey. (Image right with Václav Klaus during his visit to Cornell.)
Kathleen, who is a Junior at Cornell, already has carved out quite a name for herself in the political blogosphere. Kathleen is the co-founder of The Politicizer and also R&M; Political Group, which does social media consulting.
Kathleen is a self-described “Libertarian Republican.” Here is her current bio from The Politicizer:
Kathleen, the co-founder of The Politicizer, has been interested in politics since the age of five. Throughout high school and college she has served on a variety of debate and political clubs. Her favorite books include ‘Capitalism and Freedom,’ ‘The Road to Serfdom,’ ‘Letters to a Young Contrarian,’ ‘The End of Faith,’ ‘The Master and Margarita,’ and Corpus Aristotelicum. Her favorite publications are The Economist and Vanity Fair.
Kathleen is double-majoring in philosophy and history at Cornell University. Previously, she studied at New York University, where she also played for the varsity women’s golf team. She contributes to The Cornell Review, participates in Logos – the undergraduate philosophy journal, and serves in the Cornell Libertarian Club. In the fall of 2009, she studied in Berlin, Germany at Humboldt University. In April [2010], she was awarded the IHS Charles G. Koch Summer Fellowship, a nationally-recognized program for young libertarian leaders.
And to prove that she may have the appropriate level of snark for this blog, she asked me to supplement this bio with this observation:
For the first time in my adult life, I am actually quite proud to say that my home address is in Chris Christie country.
I hope that Kathleen will help bring a youthful conservative/libertarian perspective and readership to the blog. So please be kind in your comments!
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