Interview With John Ziegler

Update: This just in via email from John Ziegler:

Feel free to post whatever you want. That wasn't our deal, but I don;t really care. JZ

I had hoped to post the audio of an interview I did with John Ziegler tonight. Unfortunately, while claiming to want the full record out there, he is refusing to give me permission to post the audio.

Also, Ed Morrisey at Hot Air might want to update his thinking expressed here, as well. And with all due respect to Ed, I don't see the wisdom in dissing W-CPAC for a smallish exhibitor space given that it's an auxiliary event and still growing. We should encourage such events, not trivialize them for not comparing to CPAC in DC.

The position of ACU never changed based upon money from anyone based upon my research.

In my opinion, a thorough review of the facts behind allegations of Pay for Play against Keene don't really amount to enough to continue to spread them without doing the research as I did, to discover the The Politico item by Mike Allen was shoddy journalism, at best.

I'll be writing up a full report for tomorrow. Hopefully Ziegler will re-think his decision to not allow me to post the audio, as I don't believe it's really that bad. What is clear is, if you disagree with Ziegler prepare to be insulted and talked over.

Well, I'm not David Keene and I will always speak my mind. Despite that, the interview didn't get as confrontational as it might have, as we both mostly kept our cool within some limits. Only very minor name calling, at best! 

Comments

[Reaganite Republican]

Hey John-

I for one am VERY glad you're around- as a Palin fan, I was DELIGHTED to see someone so enthusiastically come to her defense when few were. And your disembowelment of Contessa Brewer was delightful, as was the YouTube video quizzing Obama voters you did- you are linked on my site.

But Dan is obviously just trying to help you, Sarah, and the conservative movement- you don't have to agree with him, but he's not out to hurt you, just some semi-friendly (LOL) advice from a like-minded patriot. When we're all basically on the same page, maybe best to heed advice from allies- seems like your point with Keene was made quickly, and a little more restraint would have served as well or better, in retrospect- I think you can see that.

And he's got a point about it not being in your own best interest to be seen as too much of a self-promoter. We're all just a squirrel looking for a nut, and fervently want to get our message out... but this is your 2nd arrest already, isn't it?

[J Taj Bozeman]

Sigh. Ziegler is embarrassing. His Michael Moore-esque style is childish at best. His salivating over Palin is, well it's reminiscent of the Obama-bots who adore him like a god.

[Roux]

Ziegler comes off as an ass in his own video as he chases Keene around.

[Eric K]

What I think is the point of all this hoopla is that the weakness of the Republican party is simply labeling all things "Conservative" when much really isn't. Just consider how just about everyone talked about Ronald Reagan and being Conservative during the last election--is John McCain or Mike Huckabee truly "Conservative" in the Reagan tradition? Umm, no.

Now we of the new movement of fed-up Conservatives are told to "shut up and sit down" by the same moderates who made it so easy for an Uber-Lib like Barack Obama be elected. Are these the people we should listen to? Is their strategy so bold and intelligent? Bah, I say.

Ed Morrissey is right when he proposes that we are being ignored by the same people who we are supposed to believe are the ideal of Conservatism. We seem to think that ethics and a "back to basics" approach to Conservatism is somehow childish and short-sighted. We might ask, "What have you done for us lately?"

We are the new way, guys. We believe in family, fiscal responsibility, and the Constitution. Perhaps you think we need to be "Dem light" but if so and if you succeed in pressing your vision, you will end this country and make the Democrats/Socialists invincible, as most will flee to weak third parties. Think about that.

[davis,br]

I voted for a McCain last (and since the Teh Fred had already withdrawn by the CA primaries, I'd fricking voted for stinking *Romney* to try and stop the McCain nomination) ...I was originally going to withhold my vote for the top-of-the-ticket, but I was delighted with his choice of Sarah Palin enought that, even with the subsequent campain errors, I held my nose and voted the ticket anyways.

But I will NOT vote for a McCain again. Period. Ditto a Romney. Ditto a Huckabee. Ditto any RINO sob the national party tries to foist upon me. I am NOT swayed by the half-a-loaf argument from those who seem to be unable or unwilling to see that the problem is the LACK of offering conservatives with principles on the party ticket. And the arguments of those arguing for them and their ilk is just so much whizzing into the wind.

I will re-register Independent. If the country is determined to go to straight to hell in the fastest way possible, I'm not going to aid it getting there.

[Paul A'Barge]

The issue is not the size of western CPAC. And it's not John Ziegler. The issue is corruption in the Conservative movement.

We are not willing to tolerate it in Obama's administration. Whyy in the world would we tolerate it from David Keene and the ACU.

Time to flush the toilet, boys. Time to flush the toilet. Adios David Keene and thank you, John Ziegler.

[denis]

Why are you guys focusing so much on Ziegler behaviour and gave a free pass for someone like keene?
I just don't get you.

[TFMo]

Yeah, I tend to side with Zig on this sort of thing, but he really did go a bit overboard. Not that I'm apologizing or siding with Keene; I'm glad Zig exposed him and I'll cheer loudly when he's shown the door.

And it has to be noted that Zig wasn't any more of a rabid attack dog than so many other so-called journalists on the left.

As to what has transpired between Dan and Zig, I'm more inclined towards Dan, as I've had actual correspondence with him. If Zig is being a douchenozzle about an interview, then he needs to take five and reassess. Exposing corrupt cons is fine, but being a jerk to real conservative bloggers is a good way to find yourself on the scrap heap with the rest of the trash.

[Bruce, NV]

Keene must go, or the ACU becomes a joke.

[happyfeet]

CPAC is gay to where you shouldn't defend it I don't think. The important thing Mr. Ziegler nailed that useless David Keene person on is his support for Arlen Specter. Clearly, giving money to CPAC is same as buying gobs and gobs of the gay porn. You're supporting pansies.

[Paul A'Barge]

Come on Dan. Keene supports Arlen Specter. How do you wiggle around that one? Leave alone all the other "arguable" stuff and tell us how you justify Keene's support of Specter?