ANDREW SULLIVAN: Where is Andrew Sullivan?
Where is Andrew Sullivan? There was no announcement of leave, no guest blogger, and only one posting yesterday. There is only speculation and thoughts, and some rumors at the Daily Kos. Any ideas? I hunger for my Daily Dish.
Update 1:
Thoughts from Matthew Yglesias:
People keep asking me why Andrew Sullivan hasn’t had any posts up today. I have no special insight into this, but note that none of the Atlantic’s blogs seem to have been updated since around 8AM this morning. Thus, I conclude that whatever’s keeping Andrew from posting is a system-wide problem and not anything that’s gone wrong with him or his site in particular.
Update 2:
Ironically, rumors concerning Andrew Sullivan’s whereabouts are as diverse as the theories that attempt to answer questions regarding Sarah Palin (some of which Sullivan rightly presents and asks, since she refuses to be subjected to any type of meaningful questioning – I respect him for using his platform to ask questions that any reasonable prudent person would want to ask about an individual who might be president of the most influential country in the world some day). Anyhow, a colleague from The Atlantic notes that Sullivan is taking some time off. I guess the man has a right to a break. From Marc Ambinder:
Lots of e-mails asking about Andrew’s whereabouts. I checked in with him; he’s fine. He’s taking a few days off. Worry not, fans.
I hadn’t thought of any such theory that he might be on the trail of some giant Palin story, but I guess it’s possible.
Although I don’t always agree with his posts and opinions, I’ve come to regard him as one of the sharpest political analysts out there. And I’ve been wondering what in the world is going on because, as you or someone else noted on this thread, he’s usually prolific with his blogging. And he has certainly been focused — perhaps obsessed — with Palin’s nomination. So have I, to be honest. The thought that, if McCain wins, she could be president a year or two from now scares me deeply.
So, you may be right that he’s on to something big, and I hope he is. And if he is in pursuit of this big story, he may be so focused on it and so anxious about its outcome that he can’t focus on the blog. And the fact that no one has stepped in to comment in any way about his absence is odd, to say the least.
On the other hand, I’ve learned the hard way that one of the most dangerous things to do is to allow yourself to believe, without skepticism, any theory or version of events that is most convenient or reassurring to your own beliefs, if that makes sense. In other words, Sullivan’s absence may be due to something else — a household emergency, a medical problem, who knows?
Some thoughts via an email whether Sullivan is chasing a story:
“Lots of e-mails asking about Andrew’s whereabouts. I checked in with him; he’s fine. He’s taking a few days off. Worry not, fans.”
That’s pure crap. He’s NEVER just walked off the job without a word. He ALWAYS says he’ll be gone, how long, and who will be posting in his absence. That they are lying doesn’t bode well.