Now Playing at Reason.tv: The reason Staff Roundtable

On March 6, reason staffers Radley Balko, Nick Gillespie, Kerry Howley, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Michael C. Moynihan, David Weigel, and Matt Welch hashed through current projects and issues of the day ranging from NAFTA, employee verification programs, the abuse of informants in drug cases, and the need for health care reform.

And yes, we know the table isn't round.

Filmed by reason.tv videographer Dan Hayes.

Click on the image below to watch (approximately 40 minutes).

Comments

Guy Montag | March 12, 2008, 3:03pm | #

Cool! You got the guy from Myth Busters (lower left of picture, across from Matt)!

Are you guys planning a surprise explosion or something?

Mike Laursens of the World | March 12, 2008, 3:12pm | #

So, if you're all editors, what are you all editing? Is there like one person on the staff who is a mere writer?

Episiarch | March 12, 2008, 3:13pm | #

HA HA HA HA

Matt gets an Aeron and the rest of you get shit? I guess you know who the boss is.

Guy Montag | March 12, 2008, 3:16pm | #

Matt gets an Aeron and the rest of you get shit? I guess you know who the boss is.

I noticed that right before you posted. Looks exactly like the chair I am sitting in at my office right now. Everybody has them, including the boss. But he has a door on his office.

Timothy | March 12, 2008, 3:17pm | #

You know, guys, the table...it isn't round.

Guy Montag | March 12, 2008, 3:18pm | #

Timothy,

Yes, they know that. See line 6 of the post.

Pro Libertate | March 12, 2008, 3:18pm | #

I, too, have that chair.

SugarFree | March 12, 2008, 3:26pm | #

Is there like one person on the staff who is a mere writer?

Yes, but you never see them. They toil in the word mines, shoveling adjectives into the ink-stained monstrosity that is Welch's heart. When they dare venture up into the light, they are driven back with mighty blows from a whip weaved from old Gillespie jackets. Occasionally Balko takes takes pity on them and feeds them raw gobbets of intern-flesh. They are the Morlocks, living lives of misery so that the Eloi can have fancy desk chairs and knotty pine conference tables. Pity them until the moment they are dead.

some guy | March 12, 2008, 3:38pm | #

Reason staffers Radley Balko, Nick Gillespie, Kerry Howley, Katherine Mangu-Ward, Michael C. Moynihan, David Weigel, and Matt Welch...

...stripped down to their undies and had a tickle party.
Ron Bailey was miffed at the snub.

Taktix® (Pittsburgh Native) | March 12, 2008, 3:42pm | #

Nick,

You live in Ohio? I now have lost all respect for you. Even with the jacket...

jaybird | March 12, 2008, 3:56pm | #

Some thoughts:

Gillespie is one cool mofo.

Really digging Kerry's think-tank-Winona-Ryder vibe.

Weigel needs to get a shirt that fits, and learn how to knot a tie.

The gonzo-porn, zoom-in-and-out-every-five-seconds style camera work gives me a headache.

Three stars.

Jennifer | March 12, 2008, 3:59pm | #

Radley Balko has an almost uncanny resemblance to a guy in my office.

twistedmerkin | March 12, 2008, 3:59pm | #

I think SugarFree is correct. The writers are the "people under the table" that Gillespie mentioned.

Art-P.O.G. | March 12, 2008, 4:00pm | #

Buckeyes represent! (Columbus native)

I am tired of all those douchebags complaining about NAFTA.

Guy Montag | March 12, 2008, 4:03pm | #

Jennifer,

Radley Balko has an almost uncanny resemblance to a guy in my office.

Do you work for the Myth Busters? Can you hook me up with Kari?

Pro | March 12, 2008, 4:07pm | #

Ah, the Buckeyes. The best second place team in America named after a semi-poisonous nut. Chortle.

Of course, I did once work at Ohio State, but that's not the same as attending the august institution.

Pro Libertate | March 12, 2008, 4:08pm | #

Oops, quotes don't work in the Name field. That was from Pro "Gator" Libertate.

The Democratic Republican | March 12, 2008, 4:09pm | #

No, Pro -- the august institution is called THE Ohio State UNIVERSITY.

(TDR sometimes loses patience with Buckeyes)

Eliot Spitzer | March 12, 2008, 4:09pm | #

WHERE IS JACOB SULLUM...?!?!

Pro Libertate | March 12, 2008, 4:14pm | #

Just so the students and alumni of OSU know, the faculty, staff, and administration of their school laugh and laugh about the use of the "The". I darkly suspect some sort of evil academic elitist plot to mock the alumni. That, or the PR people are running amok, as usual. Probably the same great geniuses that think it's clever to use a "U" on the side of the University of Miami's helmets.

peachy | March 12, 2008, 4:15pm | #

Hey, don't forget the gonzo porn soundtrack. Michael C Moynihan certainly won't, as he tosses and turns in his bed planning a hit on Gillespie - 'don't look at me with that blank gaze! You know who I am, dammit!"

All this Gator-Buckeye cross-talk makes me terribly uncomfortable... I'm a Gator from birth (Shands Hospital, woohoo!), but OSU is very high on my list of potential destinations for grad school. Oh, the conflicting emotions.

Jennifer | March 12, 2008, 4:17pm | #

Do you work for the Myth Busters?

Myth Enhancers. Sorry.

Pro Libertate | March 12, 2008, 4:17pm | #

peachy,

Go to OSU. Occasionally mention their deficiencies against your hometown school. Vaguely wonder aloud why they've never beat an SEC school. Carry a gun.

Pro Libertate | March 12, 2008, 4:19pm | #

Actually, I liked the people I worked with at OSU--that includes research staff and faculty, as well as graduate students. Certainly, there are many schools ahead of them on my like-to-humiliate list.

peachy | March 12, 2008, 4:22pm | #

Are you trying to get me killed, Pro L? And after all the times I've had your back, man. It just... it just ain't right.

Oh, well - at least I'd have a layer of protective colouration, since I have a good solid upper Midwestern BA (UofChicago.) No-one need ever know my true loyalties... [cue diabolical chuckle]

Pro Libertate | March 12, 2008, 4:25pm | #

I had a friend at UF during my undergrad days who was a UGA alumnus (he was at UF for law school). He wore the colors, but he also withstood mountains of abuse. Previously, OSU people were okay with UF, with only the occasional snide remark about how we were overrated. I doubt they're quite so tolerant these days.

R C Dean | March 12, 2008, 4:25pm | #

I, too, have that chair.

Me, too. I'm on my third consecutive job where I made them buy me one. It usually sets off a round of similar demands from my Aeron-deprive colleagues.

Guy Montag | March 12, 2008, 4:27pm | #

Go VOLS!

SEC! SEC! SEC!

Timothy | March 12, 2008, 4:29pm | #

Guy - Dude, that's the joke.

Citizen Nothing | March 12, 2008, 4:29pm | #

I've got a son at OSU, peachy. Despite your poor choice of where to be born, I'VE got your back. (And we need all the fellow-travelers we can get in this town, be they reptiles, nuts, whatever.)

Pro Libertate | March 12, 2008, 4:31pm | #

R C Dean,

It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.

Jonathan Hohensee | March 12, 2008, 4:31pm | #

Tyler Cowen is pronounced Cow-en, not Coh-en?

Pro Libertate | March 12, 2008, 4:33pm | #

Jonathan Hohensee,

Only on alternate Thursdays.

peachy | March 12, 2008, 4:36pm | #

Somehow, I think you may be right... but fortunately I'm a low-key kind of chap, who won't feel the need to flaunt the SEC's manifest superiority at every opportunity. Hehe.

Hmm - it can't say much for this particular offering from reason that so far the discussion has dealt with the invisible and oppressed staff writers, the resemblance of Radley Balko to various other people, the coolness of a particular model of chair, and the perils of inter-school sports rivalries for graduate students. Conspicuously absent - "NAFTA, employee verification programs, the abuse of informants in drug cases, and the need for health care reform."

Of course, one might argue instead that it doesn't say much for this group of commenters, but fuck that - self-criticism is for Maoists.

Episiarch | March 12, 2008, 4:37pm | #

Tyler Cowen is pronounced Cow-en, not Coh-en?

He doesn't want people thinking he's a J-E-W. What an asshole, huh?

Anonymous for obvious reasons | March 12, 2008, 4:37pm | #

Is it terribly sexist of me to admit that I find Kerri Howley to be absolutely yummy?

How about the fact that I fantasize about a..ahem.."debate" between her and Naomi Klein in a giant vat of pudding...

Pro Libertate | March 12, 2008, 4:38pm | #

By the way, to actually comment on the post (even though I don't have time to watch it), I think it's a great idea. One of the beautiful things about all of these new toys is how cheaply many kinds of information can be recorded and distributed. Here, we get to see the inner workings of a magazine--very cool. Now we just need to do this with our government(s).

Taktix® | March 12, 2008, 4:44pm | #

As far as alumni-spite goes, I was attending Pitt for the 5 or so years where they refused to use the name "Pitt" on official merchandise.

Sorry guys, changing your name to U. Pittsburgh does not make you sound like U. Penn.

P.S. Pitt English Degree = $32,000 sheet of paper

sixstring | March 12, 2008, 4:46pm | #

Is it terribly sexist of me to admit that I find Kerri Howley to be absolutely yummy?

Beauty is truth, truth beauty. That is all ye know on Earth, and all ye need to know.

Danny | March 12, 2008, 4:47pm | #

Taktix®

Have you used that piece of paper for anything yet, or are you saving it for a really special dump?

peachy | March 12, 2008, 4:48pm | #

Hehe. That reminds me of a little anecdote from my neck of the academic woods. When Churchill was First Lord of the Admiralty before WWI, he wanted to name a new battleship Pitt - honouring, of course, the two great war-time Prime Ministers. He sent the name on to George V for approval, and the King sent it straight back. Having been a Navy man himself, he was aware that sailors always give their ships more-or-less obscene or derisive nicknames, and Pitt would have been an unmissable target.

shecky | March 12, 2008, 4:53pm | #

Regarding health care cash pay aroung 39:00
In my experience, out of pocket cash pay patients do not pay more for a particular procedure. The reason being that with some insurance schedules, prices are inflated to compensate for the lack of reimbursement on the part of insurance comapnies. My doc, a practice of four, has to employ a couple full time people to haggle over reimbursement payments, and sometimes have to deal with the occasional "Fuck you, you'll take what we pay you". As a result, the $500 procedure gets inflated to $1500 with the expectation that they'll never be reimbursed that much. The out of pocket insurance-less patients get the old rate simply because it allows the doctor cut out that whole overhead.

This example was with a small independent practice running a small business. A larger collective, such as large university affiliates may have no idea how to deal with cash money patients, may never deal with insurance companies (such dealings left to another dept or even a third party), and may have no idea of what it actually costs to do a particular procedure, other than the itemized (and often misleading) billing statements.

Taktix® | March 12, 2008, 4:54pm | #

Have you used that piece of paper for anything yet, or are you saving it for a really special dump?

Well, since I got a job with Pitt after graduation (which included free grad school tuition) and then was fired a month later for an underage drinking ticket I got when I was 19, I plan to get famous with Tripping June and burn the diploma on stage during our Superbowl Halftime show.

I set reasonable goals...

Danny | March 12, 2008, 4:59pm | #

So, you're not saving it for anything special. Got it.

Fluffy | March 12, 2008, 5:04pm | #

This will probably get me IP banned, but Gillespie may be too old to pull off his cool guy persona.

Jonathan Hohensee | March 12, 2008, 5:10pm | #

The highlight of the video is at around 11:54 is when Wigel rubs his head, looks at the eczema he scratched off and dumps it on the desk hoping that no one noticed.

Art-P.O.G. | March 12, 2008, 5:12pm | #

Tripping June...I really dig the band!

Fletch | March 12, 2008, 5:23pm | #

Pro Lib-

Probably the same great geniuses that think it's clever to use a "U" on the side of the University of Miami's helmets.

>THE Miami University is also located in Ohio...

Kolohe | March 12, 2008, 5:32pm | #

The analogy of U Phoenix to sub-prime lending is totally off base. I think it's trying to be Netscape to the existing Mosaic paradigm.

U Phoenix has some issues - a co-worker just finished a hybrid in-class/online course from them and had a spectacularly bad teacher for part of it.

But it's trying to show that a for-profit company can do as well or even better at providing a product/service that has been historically deliver by not-for profit institutions.

Its specific target is the urban /suburban resident with a full time job/career that are trying to add to their education credentials. These people are currently served (in most cases adequately, but maybe not spectacularly) by community colleges and State U extension centers (e.g. the Va Tech / UVa graduate center in Falls Church, and now in other places)

I do not know if U Phoenix can make their business model work - esp with the government being their biggest competitor, even while being its biggest benefactor. But it's not trying to penetrate a new untapped market like the subprime people.

Jamie Kelly | March 12, 2008, 5:33pm | #

Is it terribly sexist of me to admit that I find Kerri Howley to be absolutely yummy?

Since when is stating an objective truth "sexist"?
Also, you have a penis, right?

Austin Janissary | March 12, 2008, 5:39pm | #

I wasn't paying attention. Which one is the Charlie Sheen clone from Wall Street? And if it is Charlie Sheen, he's really let himself go.

P.S. I'm definitely going to start commenting on Howley's articles...

Pro Libertate | March 12, 2008, 5:44pm | #

John Cocktoasten,

In Oxford--I know it well.

Kolohe | March 12, 2008, 5:51pm | #

Re Bush's medicare prescription drug entitlement

He may have not overtly campaigned on it in so many words, but it is the logical implementation of this promise:

"We will set [Medicare] on firm financial ground and make prescription drugs available and affordable for every senior who needs them."

See also this ad. (opens in real player)

Rick Barton | March 12, 2008, 5:52pm | #

What an interesting crew!

For the current incarnation of neocon hierarchy, the war and Mideast foreign policy are the pivotal issues. Note that in 2004, Bill Kristol applauded Kerry after Kerry said that he would send more troops to Iraq. In
an interview that year Kristol said :

“If you read the last few issues of the Weekly Standard, it has as much or more in common with the liberal hawks than with traditional conservatives. In the same interview he also said: “If we have to make common cause with the more hawkish liberals and fight the conservatives, that is fine with me, too."

http://query.nytimes.com/gst/fullpage.html?res=9A00E0DE113BF93AA25757C0A9629C8B63&sec=&spon=&pagewanted=1

Note as well that prior to the last congressional election, when Hillary was staking out a more hawkish approach in Iraq, Rupert Murdock, the owner of both Fox and the Weekly Standard, held not just one, but two fundraisers for Hillary.

On health care, let’s have some free-market approaches presented in Reason. BTW, in Canada, folks wait for procedures for months sometimes. I have some friends visit last summer who told me their medical delay horror stories.

peachy | March 12, 2008, 5:58pm | #

It always warms the cockles of my cold reptilian heart when the sports tickers have to specify which Miami they mean, because that means Da U has slipped far enough from the top that it can't automatically be distinguished from a school in the Mid-American Conference.

Click 'n' Learn | March 12, 2008, 6:13pm | #

Why no pleather jacket?

I enjoyed the part where Nick Gillespie decided to give Kerry Howley his test to see how well she'd learned his teachings.

Overall, I give this site a "D". The girls aren't that good looking, the guys are creepy looking, and the cameraman zooms in and out constantly, even worse than amateur gonzo directors. On the other hand, the membership does include access to CatoGoneWild.ru and CosmoC**********.com, so some might find it worthwhile because of that.

Bingo | March 12, 2008, 6:24pm | #

CosmoCatheter.com?

JLE | March 12, 2008, 6:26pm | #

They all seem tired. They need time off. Brilliance cannot be beaten into a person, even in free market mentality.

joshua corning | March 12, 2008, 6:28pm | #

Is it terribly sexist of me to admit that I find Kerri Howley to be absolutely yummy?

If we are to the point of degrading these two professionals down to sex objects then my vote goes for Magu.

She just seems really happy and fun and you know...not short.

The Wine Commonsewer | March 12, 2008, 6:29pm | #

Dramamine pleeeez.

So, now we know more about the inner workings of Reason than either David Nott or the Board of Directors.

This will probably get me IP banned, but Gillespie may be too old to pull off his cool guy persona.

Might not get you banned from here but it might get you banned from breathing. Gillespie is from Joisey and everybody that lives there either carries or is connected.

gabe harris | March 12, 2008, 6:37pm | #

My nomination for best line in the TV segment goes to Kerry Howley.

Her response to Gillespie, explaining what is wrong with making it illegal to pay educated people in poor countries more money to come work in richer countries.

my paraphrase..."the argument for making it illegal to hire these individuals is based in the assumption that people are mere objects owned by the state for the purpose of sacrificing their souls to the god of the almighty commons....if this is your belief then seig heil motherf***er!!

seriously, she won my trust in being a true individualist with her quick response.


I liked Mangu last week, but her strawman description of "republicans who don't like McCain are neo-cons" is folly. Have you heard of Max Boot and Henry Kissinger? these are the Foreign Policy advisers and supporters of McCain.

http://www.cfr.org/bios/5641/max_boot.html

read about them please. look up some Youtubes on Kissinger and Cambodia.

Kissinger referred pointedly to military men as "dumb, stupid animals to be used" as pawns for foreign policy.
Woodward and Bernstein, The Final Days, chapter 14

The republican leaning people I know who plan on not supporting McCain are in favor of a small governemtn adn in favor of a more peaceful foreign policy...the opposite of neo-cons. If anything, I'd say that Max Boot, 100-year-war-McCain and Henry Kissinger are state worshipping, anti-free trade(yippee Cuba, Iraq and Iran trade embargos) New Deal Advocating neo-cons not those of us who dislike him.

The Wine Commonsewer | March 12, 2008, 6:39pm | #

Is it terribly sexist of me to admit that I find Kerri Howley to be absolutely yummy?

Wipe your mouth, there is still a tiny bit of drool on your lips. :-)

Please, please, please, some of us come from an era when you could count the number of libertarian women in your state on one hand.

I count myself among the most fortunate men on the earth to have actually dated four libertarian women and, better yet, to have married one of them. She has yet to kick me to the curb, bless her heart.

There are lots of great libertarian guys and not enough libertarian chicks to go around, so, please, don't frighten them them off!

I'm looking at you Warren! :-)

joshua corning | March 12, 2008, 7:04pm | #

There are lots of great libertarian guys and not enough libertarian chicks to go around, so, please, don't frighten them them off!

You got yours what the hell do you care...

Oh wait..

I see...


You want two. =P

Rick Barton | March 12, 2008, 7:06pm | #

Click 'n' Learn @ 6:13pm,

Go eat shit you rude, shallow, jerk.

I don't think that you even have the capacity to appreciate the roundtable vid.

Tim Cavanaugh | March 12, 2008, 7:11pm | #

Clearly Welch is getting revenge for the L.A.T.'s McCain endorsement by making a mockery of my one-man crusade against shakycam.

peachy | March 12, 2008, 7:18pm | #

That would be delightfully petty of him, if true. But hell, I prefer your explanation to mine - that your videographer is a closet Dogme 95 fanatic.

SIV | March 12, 2008, 7:21pm | #

Please, please, please, some of us come from an era when you could count the number of libertarian women in your state on one hand.

Uh...the era of the 21st Century?
There is a Ron Paul chick in the office that functions as my work address but she isn't libertarian, just one of those culty spambots.

As long as we are rating the REASON ladies register my vote for KM-W.

GG | March 12, 2008, 7:27pm | #

You're all wonderful. I'm in love with you all. But Matthew and Kerry? Please do not shill for Big Health Care System, ever again.

Here are McCain's health care intentions. (Which includes both "personal responsibility" and "government health initiatives." Sounds like National Greatness to me!)

Overall, I give this site a "D". The girls... the guys...

lonewacko, shut the fuck up, you hateful little slimeball.

Here's another one of my favorite recipes from South of the border:

Fried Corn and Green Chilies

6 ears sweet corn
1 small onion - chopped
1/2 cup roasted and diced green chilies (canned or roasted fresh)
4T butter

Shuck, wash and slice the corn off the cobs (stand the ear on end, and slice downward).

In a large hot frying pan, melt the butter. Add the corn, onion and green chilies and fry on med. high, stirring frequently, for about 5-10 minutes or until corn is tender yet crispy. Add salt and pepper to taste. Serves 6.

(Speaking of which, if anyone tried to make that Guajillo sauce from a few weeks back, I think I neglected to mention straining it after it's blended. Ugh! Sorry.)

I really enjoy these. Thanks, reason. Truncated versions of these roundtables will be great for reason.tv's yet to be produced weekly cable news show.

joshua corning | March 12, 2008, 7:28pm | #

Clearly Welch is getting revenge for the L.A.T.'s McCain endorsement by making a mockery of my one-man crusade against shakycam.

CGI scenes of space and space ships in firefly and battle star galactica seem to still work with shakycam....it gives more depth to the vastness of space as well as allows for the perception of scale that movies like star wars or shows like star trek just did not have.

javier | March 12, 2008, 7:39pm | #

GG,

is that a red onion im guessing?? sounds good may give it a try.

Brian Courts | March 12, 2008, 7:47pm | #

The only positive thing to come out of lonewackoff's pathetic, mean-spirited, drivelingly self-obsessed attempts at spam-trolling is the fact that he has undoubtedly done his pet issue much more harm than good. Keep up the good work.

SxCx | March 12, 2008, 7:50pm | #

Scandal! Savvy libertarian vanguard praises socialized healthcare! "Moderate" opinions, concessions to success! Man the fucking rampaaaarts!

GG | March 12, 2008, 8:01pm | #

Whichever you prefer, javier. It's really good, and really easy so you just can't screw it up.

The only positive thing to come out of lonewackoff's pathetic, mean-spirited, drivelingly self-obsessed attempts at spam-trolling is the fact that he has undoubtedly done his pet issue much more harm than good. Keep up the good work.

He's such an awful awful man. ;P I applaud reason's patience and devotion to free speech, but if they decided to ban his hateful, racist ass, who would blame them?

Scandal! Savvy libertarian vanguard praises socialized healthcare! "Moderate" opinions, concessions to success! Man the fucking rampaaaarts!

LOL...

Someone Who Doesn't Want to Lose His Job | March 12, 2008, 8:29pm | #

joshua corning:
She just seems really happy and fun and you know...not short.

Enough height-hate, you Randy Newman wannabe!

James | March 12, 2008, 9:03pm | #

I was enjoying it until Weigel showed up on camera, stuttering like crazy. Homeboy needs to see a speech therapist and get some clearasil.

John | March 12, 2008, 9:19pm | #

What is up with the porn music at the start? Bow Kicka Bow Wow.

Topper Headon | March 12, 2008, 10:22pm | #

Howley, Gillespie, and Balko are the best of the group, although Balko could use some energy, and Howley's so morose I was getting depressed just listening to her. Sheesh, you're doing punditry, not brain surgery. Lighten up.

It's a decent discussion. It was especially interesting to learn that the new editor of the magazine is a French-loving health care socialist. Free markets indeed.

It would be great to have these sorts of videos also put out as a podcast since there's nothing particularly visually interesting about watching pasty white people speak about politics.

Henry Harrison | March 12, 2008, 10:43pm | #

If Russ Roberts is right, Radley was being "essentially dishonest" in his piece about the "direct correlation" between jobs lost and their business friendly environments.

See: http://cafehayek.typepad.com/hayek/2008/03/theory-and-evid.html

I trust Roberts.

Cartman | March 12, 2008, 11:03pm | #

What's the over/under on when Reason will trot out Trey Parker and Matt Stone for Reason.tv (assuming they haven't already)?

Click 'n' Learn | March 12, 2008, 11:07pm | #

~~~~ Correction ~~~~~

Earlier I had not provided the full list of sites that a Reason membership gives you access to.

To set the record straight, your Reason membership pledge includes access to:

DumbHairyLibertarians.com
CosmosWithRothbards.br
AsianSexyCatooeys.th
AbbysCosmos.au
BoundButFree.so

Bonus: can you see what amateurish mistake the director made in the video? Hint: did he go all the way around the table?

Dave Weigel | March 12, 2008, 11:22pm | #

Weigel needs to get a shirt that fits, and learn how to knot a tie.

if it is Charlie Sheen, he's really let himself go.

I was enjoying it until Weigel showed up on camera, stuttering like crazy. Homeboy needs to see a speech therapist and get some clearasil.

Yes, thank you all for this.

Bingo | March 12, 2008, 11:25pm | #

Hahaha Weigel we still love you!

Ooze | March 12, 2008, 11:52pm | #

Boring.

Fake libertarians are fake.

The Wine Commonsewer | March 13, 2008, 12:01am | #

Dave Weigel, you cannot take shit personally from people who failed Dale Carnegie class. They may just be yanking your chain like high school kids at the lunch table, or not. Either way, as your folks likely told you, they're jealous.

shawl and knittin' time | March 13, 2008, 12:16am | #

What's Reason's hiring policy - don't trust anyone over 30?

Is hiring only kids a way to save on health care?

RBSIV | March 13, 2008, 1:20am | #

Lonewacko, Go find your 2 illiterate friends and continue your circle jerk

SxCx | March 13, 2008, 1:37am | #

Fuck, we're a catty bunch.

The Wine Commonsewer | March 13, 2008, 1:40am | #

Overall, I give this site a "D".

Yet they continue to let you comment here. Hmmm.

GILMORE | March 13, 2008, 1:48am | #

GG | March 12, 2008, 7:27pm | #

lonewacko, shut the fuck up, you hateful little slimeball.

RBSIV | March 13, 2008, 1:20am | #
Lonewacko, Go find your 2 illiterate friends and continue your circle jerk

Rick Barton | March 12, 2008, 7:06pm | #
Click 'n' Learn @ 6:13pm,

Go eat shit you rude, shallow, jerk.

I really do enjoy seeing other people mercilessly kicking our poor dumb shithead mascot around.

I mean, doing it myself is rewarding, but there's also the certain esprit de corps thing going on when i see others rip him to pieces and drink his blood. I get proud of our troops. We do fine work. However, there could have been more references to his retarded grammar, inability to retort to anything, inflated ego, tiny penis, etc. I mean, we can always do better. Let's keep working on our fundamentals. Go team!

Also, i like the video roundtable things. Keep em coming.

Rick Barton | March 13, 2008, 1:49am | #

I love these round tables.

Each of the staff had some interesting stuff to report as well as other provocative observations. There isn't a slouch among them. It's Reason's ability to attract and employ folks of this caliber that's led to its reputation as a quality publication.

GILMORE | March 13, 2008, 1:55am | #

Dave Weigel | March 12, 2008, 11:22pm | #

"Weigel needs to get a shirt that fits, and learn how to knot a tie.

if it is Charlie Sheen, he's really let himself go.

I was enjoying it until Weigel showed up on camera, stuttering like crazy. Homeboy needs to see a speech therapist and get some clearasil."

Yes, thank you all for this.

Dude, come on. It's tough love. Next time, get a cup of coffee and keep pretending to drink it. but NEVER ACTUALLY DO IT. It will be like a running gag. Eventually you'll be more popular than Norm from Cheers.

Seriously, dont take this stuff personally. Even though its like, pretty personal.

That, and i recommend button down collars for people who are...thicker types. really. it helps a little. plus you get less of the 'clip on' look from poorly tied ties. (ouch)

mtc | March 13, 2008, 6:11am | #

I thought it was quite classy of Weigel to put on a tie, unlike the rest of those fuckin' hippies. (ok, Welch looked alright too) And exempting Radley. He's the man, he can do what he wants.

Guy Montag | March 13, 2008, 6:31am | #

Stop picking on Dave Weigel. If you people could find something of substance you would not be throwing the big-sissy fashion fits and bring up something relevant.

I suggest you watch BRAVO, E!, Oxygen or some of the other cable channels for the catty experience that you crave. Just a suggestion, of course.

Episiarch | March 13, 2008, 7:33am | #

Hey! Show a little respect for Weigel, okay? Anybody who looks like a cross between Charlie Sheen and Conway Twitty (love the hair, Dave--seriously) deserves respect.

"It's only make believe..."

JW | March 13, 2008, 8:07am | #

I count myself among the most fortunate men on the earth to have actually dated four libertarian women and, better yet, to have married one of them. She has yet to kick me to the curb, bless her heart.

Dude, it's not enough that I'm already insanely jealous of your life, but 4? FOUR?! Oy...yer killin' me. The closest I've come is a republican ex and she was just fukcing nuts. I'm clearly doing something wrong or all the libertarian women around here were hunted to exinction long ago.

That's it! I'm going to Cali and learn from the master. I'm packing my bags now.

JW | March 13, 2008, 8:08am | #

Oh and Nick, Matt, thanks for letting us be a fly on the wall, albeit one with very bad depth perception. Fun stuff.

R C Dean | March 13, 2008, 9:51am | #

I count myself among the most fortunate men on the earth to have actually dated four libertarian women

Wow. All four?

mk | March 13, 2008, 10:00am | #

Looking good on camera is very hard to do.

I, for instance, have buggy eyes (thyroid problems), slouch, am overweight, and almost always have a stain on my shirt from lunch.

I usually just smile for the camera and am happy if I don't look too miserable.

mk | March 13, 2008, 10:30am | #

BTW, Weigel could easily rock a Robert Smith look.
He could do that for the eighties dance nights at the Black Cat. I bet he'd score.

Oh, and KMW is indeed a very pretty lady. Her eyes are huge like a Japanese anime character.

Joe Strummer | March 13, 2008, 11:00am | #

I couldn't give a crap what he looks like. Dave Weigel is the best thing Reason has had to offer in years. His political reporting has been better than Ben Smith, Andrew Sullivan, and - if the praise isn't too faint - Marc Ambinder - and the Halperin etc. stuff.

Weigel is the real deal, and my pick for the young staff member most likely to break out of Reason (not that I think Reason needs to be broken out of.)

Weigel is usually the only person I read on Hit & Run.

Joe Strummer | March 13, 2008, 11:02am | #

mk wrote:

I, for instance, have buggy eyes (thyroid problems), slouch, am overweight, and almost always have a stain on my shirt from lunch.

I didn't know Tim Russert read Hit & Run. Welcome aboard!

Joe Strummer | March 13, 2008, 11:03am | #

Oh, and KMW is indeed a very pretty lady. Her eyes are huge like a Japanese anime character.

My mistake. That's not Tim Russert, that's the Comic Book Shop Guy from The Simpsons.

mk | March 13, 2008, 11:13am | #

My mistake. That's not Tim Russert, that's the Comic Book Shop Guy from The Simpsons.

I wasted my life *explosion*

Seriously, you can say I'm like the comic book guy all you want, but saying I'm like Tim Russert is a low blow man, not cool ;)

The Wine Commonsewer | March 13, 2008, 12:55pm | #

Dude, it's not enough that I'm already insanely jealous of your life, but 4? FOUR?! Oy...yer killin' me.

Wow, that is as cool as it is surprising to me. Thanks. Now my head is too big to get out the door.

I'm very happy to be with Mrs TWC, I'll give you that. Also surprised that she's put up with me as long as she has. I'm not that easy to live with.

In all fairness, there were some skanks, bad choices, and slimeballs, plus one alcoholic, brainless, drug crazed pyschotic flaming liberal blond chick in between the first three libertarian chicks and Mrs TWC.

One of those three libertarian relationships was casual, one was short term, one was, well, pretty cool and she could have been Mrs TWC except her daddy din't like me much. :-)

The Wine Commonsewer | March 13, 2008, 1:11pm | #

There is a Ron Paul chick in the office that functions as my work address but she isn't libertarian, just one of those culty spambots.

My buddy the Kosmik Kid tells me that he's seen a lot of hot chicks at the RP rallies (he's been to dozens). Doubtless, some are spambots, others aren't real libertarians (Drink), but some of them have got to be the real deal. It's the odds, man.

When I was a lad all the hot chicks were at the SDS meetings. They opposed the draft, but only because nobody got drafted into the Peace Corps.

JW | March 13, 2008, 1:31pm | #

In all fairness, there were some skanks, bad choices, and slimeballs, plus one alcoholic, brainless, drug crazed pyschotic flaming liberal blond chick in between the first three libertarian chicks and Mrs TWC.

Heh. All that sounds remarkably familiar, except for the libertarian chicks and Mrs. TWC.

Wow, that is as cool as it is surprising to me. Thanks. Now my head is too big to get out the door.

De nada. I know life is what you make it (all WAY too well), but I could defintely stand a couple days in your shoes. Of course, all your tax clients would be suing you for malpractice after that point. ;-)

Pig Mannix | March 13, 2008, 1:54pm | #

It's a decent discussion. It was especially interesting to learn that the new editor of the magazine is a French-loving health care socialist. Free markets indeed.

Well, there's going to be some changes - the new masthead is going to read, "Free Health Care and Cultural Marxism".....

GILMORE | March 13, 2008, 2:34pm | #

Joe Strummer | March 13, 2008, 11:00am | #

Weigel is usually the only person I read on Hit & Run.

Hey, the world takes all kinds. Some people even like Marmite. LOVE Marmite.

That still doesnt make it tasty. :)

isnt there some cliche that goes "Politics is intellectualism for the ineffectual?" or something? I wish i could remember how that one went.

jeffersonianideal | March 16, 2008, 9:58am | #

If you like television, sausage and now, Reason, never watch any one of those being made.

Peter | March 19, 2008, 6:10pm | #

As much as I enjoyed this, it was a little irritating that the camera was on "auto-focus" and everytime there was a quick zoom, the picture went out of focus for a split second. Also, there definitely should have been two cameras and a boom mic operator (great bitch job for an intern). It was watchable, but it could have been way better from a production stand point.

Rumple Foreskin | March 19, 2008, 6:16pm | #

David Weigel naked, playing one on one basketball against...another David Weigel, who is also naked. Nick Gillespie is the ref and he is wearing nothing but a leather jacket and black socks.

Katherine Mangu-Ward is on the other side of the playground playing teather ball by herself.