Here lies Instaputz (2006-2013).

So, about that hiatus...

It's been a great run, but I'm officially retiring from blogging. With my new day job in New York, I simply don't have the time to write about politics every day.

Back in July, I thought I could carve out a time and schedule that made sense. But it never quite emerged. So, after mocking Putz and various other wingnuts for seven years, first here, then at Glenn Greenwald's old place, then FDL and finally, C&L -- I've just run out of time.

The reason I started Instaputz back in April 2006 was a simple one: Glenn Reynolds was still regarded in the corporate media and a good chunk of the blogosphere as a "nonpartisan libertarian." Back then, he had respectable gigs at The Guardian and was profiled glowingly in the Times. And his faux centrism skewed the debate about the Iraq War -- and American politics generally -- to the right.

How times have changed.

I'd like to think this post had something to do with the erosion of his ability to successfully pose as a "nonpartisan libertarian," but ultimately, as the War in Iraq deteriorated even further and Bush proved himself to be every bit as incompetent as his critics had been saying from the start, Glenn helpfully outed himself as a boringly conventional, Bush-supporting, gun-toting right-winger from East Tennessee.

It's been fascinating to watch his descent into 110-proof wingnuttery. His total wrongness about the Iraq War was followed by his total wrongness about the Great Recession. And after Barack Obama was elected (yes, Putz was bullish on a McCain victory -- along with other things), just like every other Bush/Cheney cheerleader who didn't want to call themselves Republicans after being humiliated in back-to-back elections, he put all his energy into promoting the Teabaggers -- a movement that just four years later is now, predictably, a massive dumpster fire.

And here's the best part. The sad, small fig leaf Putz used back in 2006 to make himself seem "centrist" -- his support of gay marriage -- is now boringly mainstream. And, tellingly, he hasn't found another to replace it. But he doesn't bother with the pretense anymore, and anyway, no one's buying it when he tries.

His hatred for liberals, Democrats, and "the media" -- which simmered and occasionally boiled over during the Bush years -- became unhinged, spittle-producing rage during the Obama years. The "nonpartisan" who constantly whined about how mean and unfair "the press" and "the left" was to Bush finally snapped and labeled the first black president in American history a "racist hatemonger," sounding more like a deranged Stormfront blogger than a law professor.

In short, this blog's reason for being -- exposing Glenn Reynolds' wingnuttery -- has run its course. So, I'm saying goodbye.

The best thing about blogging has been all the great people I've met through it along the way, especially, my two former Instaputz co-bloggers, TS and Ed.

Other friends I've made through Instaputz: Glenn Greenwald, Jane Hamsher, John Amato, Dave Neiwert, Marcy Wheeler, Eli, Greg Levine, Bmaz, Pachacutec, Tbogg, Christy Hardin Smith, Watertiger, Phoenix Woman, the late and classy Scarecrow, Peterr, Richard Taylor, Spencer Ackerman, David Dayen, the FDL crew and the C&L crew. They're the best.

Can't sign off before giving a special shout-out to the most loyal and hilarious Instaputz commenter, Charles Giocometti. Charles -- next time you're in New York, I'll be happy to buy you a beer.

I never imagined back in April 2006 that this thing would be visited over 3,000,000 times, and at one point, attract over 3,000 visitors a day. That's just weird.

Thanks for all the visits. And thanks, especially for all the comments on this post -- which to this day, still move me.

BT