Kos gets well deserved smackdown

Not only did Markos Moulitsas spell his name wrong, but he called Zack Exley (formerly of Moveon and the Kerry campaign) an idiot on his blog which is read by some 250,000 a day. Zack promptly responded and it should give Markos pause, for he has said and written many reckless things in the past:

His praising of the deaths of those contractors last spring in Falluja. His blind boosterism of Howard Dean and utter contempt for John Kerry (who won that battle?). His open hostility to pretty much any experienced Democratic party operative. These ill-considered views raise serious questions about his judgment on all matters political (which is, afterall, the subject of his blog). His answer to most criticism is to say that as the author of a successful blog he can write what he wants. But I wonder, when will his readers come to understand that his word is not Gospel, that he has misled them, and that he may likely have caused them to chastise fellow Democrats unfairly.

As with Howard Dean, the anger of these individuals and, for lack of a better word, their brattiness, is really divided pretty evenly between Republicans and Democrats. In fact, while they openly proclaim support of the Democratic party, they work almost as hard to tear down certain individuals associated with the party. While every Democrat understands the need for renewal and re-thinking in light of the past election, there is no sense in leading a circular firing squad on our own troops. Yet Markos proves once again, he doesn't get it and will treat Democrats that annoy him and Republicans with equal contempt. He would certainly never consider the ethical thing: Talk to the person with whom he is angry rather than blasting them on his website.