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December 09, 2007
Moving Day
Tomorrow, this blog moves to The American Prospect. It's a big deal for me. I remember setting up on Typepad, terrified that my decision to leave Pandagon was an insane mistake that would destroy my audience and doom any hope I had of making this into a career. I remember how hard the first few days were, looking at a Sitemeter that was a bare fraction of what I was used to, and seeing big zeros where the number of comments should have gone.
But this site allowed me to find my voice as a writer. My first explorations into health policy were here. So were the links to my first published pieces, and the announcement that I'd been hired by The American Prospect. My first appearances on Hardball came because of this site, as did my first op-eds in The Los Angeles Times. Indeed, I owe just about everything to this little blog, and the wonderful audience and commenting community that grew up around it.
And now, it's time to pack up my boxes and move once again. I've long wanted to bring the site to The Prospect, for reasons ranging from work-life balance, to a deep belief in the magazine's mission and my responsibility to further it, to a simple desire to feel like less of a delinquent employee. On Monday, after a lot of technological headaches and hassles (all of them borne with grace, cheer, and grim determination by this prince of a man), the new site will open. There are no planned changes in content or tone or orientation -- I will still have complete and sole editorial control over the site. It will simply be over there, instead of over here. And there will be more red.
Sadly, my remarkable weekend writers will not be coming with me. They will be starting their own group blog. But I'll leave that for their goodbye posts (which are below this one), and simply say that I've been honored to have such a whip-smart group of writers pitch-in, elevating the site's quality and giving me something resembling weekends. I can't thank them enough, and I'm genuinely excited to be able to read them all week long, and in one place.
Logistically speaking, on Sunday, this post will be raised to the top of the site. That evening, the transfer will take place, this page will redirect to the new site, and all the other technical aspects of the move will take place. I hope you folks will all follow over to TAP, change your bookmarks, update your feeds, and all the rest. After all, without you, I'm just some crazy guy, listening to my own voice echo through the tubes.
December 9, 2007 | Permalink
Comments
>I remember... seeing big zeros where the number of comments should have gone.
Well, this posting won't have a "0 comments" status anymore.
We'll miss ya, ya big lug.
[insert smarmy hugging emoticon here]
Please post a link to save us lazy ones from having to google American Prospect Klein -Joe.
Thank you.
And, of course, best wishes in your new endeavours.
Posted by: bartkid | Dec 7, 2007 5:14:37 PM
Congratulations. It's always gratifying to see someone succeed who really deserves it.
Posted by: Tom Hilton | Dec 7, 2007 5:25:36 PM
Adios.
I remember worrying about Greenwald moving to Salon, would he still be available? Well, he is, but it became too much of a hassle to read the comments and throw in my own 2¢ from time to time; so, in a way, he isn't.
Posted by: Mike | Dec 7, 2007 5:25:51 PM
grr.
The wordwrap on the last message defeated my joke.
The wordwrap separated the minus sign and the word Joe.
(A minus sign in front of a term excludes it from the results google returns.)
Sigh.
Posted by: bartkid | Dec 7, 2007 5:27:41 PM
it became too much of a hassle to read the comments and throw in my own 2¢ from time to time
I wouldn't worry about that. The posts at TAPPED get very few comments generally, far less than here.
I may be way off on this, but I suspect that Ezra brings more of an audience to the American Prospect with this move than vice versa.
Posted by: Jason C. | Dec 7, 2007 5:31:47 PM
Well, good luck, and congrats. Sound like a good move for you. Look forward to reading you in the new 'hood.
Posted by: Jasper | Dec 7, 2007 5:34:35 PM
Yeah, but will you still be able to use the f word?
Posted by: Eric the Political Hack | Dec 7, 2007 5:48:44 PM
Congratulations! you are, along with Matt and Kevin, one of the best bloggers out there. Good Luck, and best wishes.
p.s.
The Political Hack brings up a good point: will you still be able to use the truckers language we've all come to adore so?
Posted by: bend | Dec 7, 2007 6:03:20 PM
keep shining brightly, ezra klein!!
* * * * * * * * * * * *
Posted by: jacqueline | Dec 7, 2007 6:06:02 PM
Congratulations and best wishes, Ezra.
Posted by: mk | Dec 7, 2007 6:15:35 PM
Congrats, Ezra. Well-deserved.
Posted by: wisewon | Dec 7, 2007 6:20:39 PM
Ezra -- I understand why you're doing this, but from a personal branding perspective, I don't think it's a good move.
You may feel that subsuming "Ezra Klein" into the greater TAP online identity is a good thing, and maybe it is in the short-term, but long-term, I think you'll find it's a mistake. As Ezra Klein, you're a unique entity, a pundit worth calling for TV appearances and op-eds. As part of the TAP collective, you're just another writer.
Be careful. Don't let your employer exploit your feelings of guilt into causing harm to your own value. They benefit more from this deal than you do.
Posted by: lux | Dec 7, 2007 6:21:07 PM
Now I remember. You're the guy who wrote Sally Field's famous acceptance speech at the Oscars.
Posted by: Jim W | Dec 7, 2007 6:33:09 PM
Good luck. Look forward to seeing the multipolar weekender arrangement. Group dynamics at its finest no doubt.
Posted by: (Lefty) RW | Dec 7, 2007 6:40:10 PM
Ezra, you've really become one of the bloggers I most respect, and when I'm interested in a health coverage issue, I always come here. I've read American Prospect infrequently, but always thought it was great. Now, I'll be there more often, thanks to your presence. Thanks for your work, and your voice.
Posted by: Brighid | Dec 7, 2007 6:55:29 PM
Congratulations and thank you. Good luck with the Man Date.
Posted by: katherine | Dec 7, 2007 7:16:05 PM
congrats ezra, you so deserve this. best of luck!
Posted by: paul | Dec 7, 2007 7:31:24 PM
Hey, did you ever pick a name for the new blog? If not, let me make a late plug for something like "EZ Does It". Unlike the late Eric Wright, your name even has a 'z' in it.
Good luck at the new digs, I know I'll be there.
Posted by: kth | Dec 7, 2007 7:41:39 PM
Best wishes.
Posted by: Klug | Dec 7, 2007 7:52:48 PM
Congrats!!
Posted by: Joe Klein's conscience | Dec 7, 2007 8:10:58 PM
After all, without you, I'm just some crazy guy, listening to my own voice echo through the tubes.... while with us, you are some crazy guy, listening to your own voice echo through the tubes, and so much more as well.
Runner-up for most dramatic call off from work:
- "The secret voice told me to come in and kill everyone in the office today, but I couldn't find the bullets, so I'll not be able to come in until tomorrow."
Posted by: BruceMcF | Dec 7, 2007 8:31:24 PM
Big Congrats!
Doesn't change a thing for me since TAP is on my plate every morning... and I doubt it will change you either (also on my daily plate).
Best of Luck
Rich
Posted by: Rich | Dec 7, 2007 9:37:08 PM
Ha, just found this. Now I have to move over to TAP?? It's all good though, I've read your stuff over there before. Keep up the good work. Mike.
Posted by: Mike | Dec 7, 2007 10:24:26 PM
Will this work like the atlantic blogs? Will I still be able to just type "ezraklein dot com"?
Posted by: mad6798j | Dec 7, 2007 11:13:35 PM
Good luck Ezra--will follow you on over--keep up the awesome work!
Posted by: Texican | Dec 8, 2007 12:00:29 AM
Am I the only one who won't read multi-author blogs? I have nothing against your weekend bloggers at all. It's just that I don't like having to spend time looking for who has written the post I'm reading and the shifting perspectives, not to mention that not having read as much of their writing I have no frame for it. It's the same reason I almost never read TAPped but do read Beat the Press from time to time. I just don't dig the whole guest blogger thing. So I for one am happy about that.
Posted by: everyone loves parfait | Dec 8, 2007 12:01:48 AM
What lux said.
What lux said.
What lux said.
Still, I wish you all the best. It's always been great to log onto your site and read The Good Stuff. Thanks so much.
I'm sad, however, that I'M IN UR PROSPEKT, WONKIN ON UR POLISEES wasn't chosen as your new blog masthead.
Posted by: sangfroid826 | Dec 8, 2007 12:05:43 AM
As long as I still get to read some unedited, uncensored Ezra wisdom, the address doesn't matter.
Congratulations and good luck, and I look forward to reading every word as usual.
Posted by: Jumada | Dec 8, 2007 12:31:28 AM
Oh.
Pity, I liked the cool blue and white tones.
Posted by: Anthony Damiani | Dec 8, 2007 2:06:08 AM
Congratulations and best wishes, Ezra.
Posted by: jmack | Dec 8, 2007 6:02:06 AM
Congrats of couse.
I think it's an interesting example of what blogs really are doing both in the US and the UK. Replacing, to some extent the traditional unpaid (or very badly paid) internships which were the traditional route into the media.
Instead of begging an editor for a chance you can, for example, simply start publishing stuff and people will see whether you can a) keep it up and b) present a coherent worldview. You, Megan and Matt (and I'm sure there are others) as examples in the US, I can think of a few in the UK too.
Another thing it does is frees the wannabe from the necessity of having the contacts, the family networks.
Posted by: Tim Worstall | Dec 8, 2007 6:59:04 AM
I know this is completely the wrong time, but as a devoted blog reader, I'm already weary of this trend of establishing corporate brands on Bloggers. Matt Yglesias with The Atlantic and now Ezra with TAP.
Posted by: G. Charlton | Dec 8, 2007 8:51:24 AM
Congratulations and good luck Ezra. You're on the right track and have helped to lead this country in the right direction.
Posted by: Curt Matlock | Dec 8, 2007 9:53:40 AM
Congrats, Ezra! I'm looking forward to reading your blog at the new location, and I'm also looking forward to seeing what Neil, Nicholas, etc.'s new place looks like.
Posted by: low-tech cyclist | Dec 8, 2007 10:23:04 AM
There is a way to make money at this? WOW! Hey, we would follow you anywhere. I'll be sure to test my blog-roll link on Monday and make any updates required. Congratulations and keep on keepin' on!
Posted by: Christopher David Peter Wilcox | Dec 8, 2007 11:24:27 AM
This is a good thing, and if I may be so bold, the right thing. Congrats to TAP, who are the ones who will benefit.
Posted by: bob mcmanus | Dec 8, 2007 12:18:38 PM
Congratulations! I'll seek out day one of your new location like I did day one of ezraklein.typepad. I know there's more good stuff at American Prospect that I've not made as frequent a habit of seeking out as your own site. And I'm glad the weekend crew is moving intact to another clubhouse, too. Ethical Werewolves every day? aaaaaOOOOOooooooo....
Posted by: Jacel | Dec 8, 2007 12:24:03 PM
Best wishes.
Probably pretty proud of our little Ez-man
across the board.
Posted by: has_te | Dec 8, 2007 2:32:41 PM
I "found" you at Pandagon, and was an instant fan. The "Top Ten Conservatives" post is still a favorite, but I cannot locate it anymore. I think you said they lost some archives. Pity.
I'll follow you over, even though you don't respond to emails. ;)
Best of luck, Ezra.
Posted by: Mack | Dec 9, 2007 9:33:11 AM
Hard to remember when I started reading you so regularly. Probably no sudden decision, you just put yourself out there in a straight-forward way, and post after post you articulated what I was thinking, or should be thinking:) Congrats, and good luck with the new Prospect blog, and to your weekend writer's new blog as well.
Posted by: roublen | Dec 9, 2007 2:45:33 PM
Good luck, and ignore the nay-sayers. There are some people whose first and only reaction to success is to find reasons to undermine it. (Blue and white tones? Are you serious?) But TAP is good people, and I think it's a good move.
Posted by: Amanda Marcotte | Dec 9, 2007 2:51:50 PM
Happy trails, I'll be seeing you down the road.
Posted by: Hawise | Dec 9, 2007 5:06:56 PM
Sorry, but when bloggers go mainstream media, it's not blogging anymore because they start second-guessing themselves, and thinking about what they need to avoid so as to not jeopardize their income. I suppose that your new blog and job over there was conditioned upon you closing down this blog right? I suspect that's the first in a series of compromises that you may find yourself making.
Here's how it works, they get used to the money, and the recognition, and all the perks that go with them, and then they start making little requests, at first. Then those requests become more frequent and broader in scope, and then once you're nice and comfortable in your position, that's when they begin making you afraid of losing everything they've allowed you to have. That's when the real tests will come. I'll be interested to see how you hold up. Good luck, you're going to need it.
PS There's a reason they call it SELLING-OUT. The hardest part by far, is selling yourself the first time, but after that it gets easier. It's a lot like killing, the more you do it, the less affect it has on you, until at some point it becomes incidental. I suppose whoring is better than killing, but the pitfalls are very similar, and make no mistake the effects are cumulative and compounded over time. Here's a little advice, watch your back, and trust no one. And if you want to succeed in this environment, the more ruthless and merciless you are, the better your chances for survival and advancement.
Posted by: Aaron | Dec 9, 2007 6:07:50 PM
Aaron, it's the American Prospect, not Time Magazine, or, ahem, the Washington Post.
Posted by: Jason C. | Dec 9, 2007 6:29:57 PM
As one who guest-posted when you were on vacation, let me extend you best wishes.
Posted by: Randy Paul | Dec 9, 2007 6:54:53 PM
