Because conservatives evidently have enough confidence in their beliefs that they don’t see how reading a sobby shit-rag like the NYT will benefit them?

Perhaps you’re right about the semantics, but I observe something completely different than you do. I see liberal sites that criticize (or be critical of) conservative writers, and I see conservative sites doing the same to liberal writers. This may be selection bias in action … for both of us.

While there are varying definitions of “liberal” and “conservative”, it is my belief that this site is closer to “conservative” than to “liberal”. The “liberals” that I know worship at the feet of Maureen Dowd, Paul Krugman, and the NY Times (they repeat almost verbatim what I read in the Times … its nauseating … and they are supposed to be thinking people?)

BTW, I think it is a mistake to use labels such as conservative and liberal because I really don’t think those words mean the same thing to everyone.

Cheers…

You’re focusing on semantics rather than substance.

Let’s say I erred by choosing the word “fact” (I’m at work and can’t give posting on this site my undivided attention). Even so, it’s my observation, and the observation of others, that there is truth to this. The fact (and it is a fact) that I log onto this site every day to see what everyone is saying shows a certain amount of openness to different kind of thinking that I believe is more commonly shared by liberals than by conservatives.

Answer: I don’t buy your premise. If you have to throw the word “fact” into a statement, it does not make the statement automatically true. IMHO, when someone uses the word “fact” without supplying evidence (anecdotes do not count), it casts doubt on it.

It is my opinion (not fact) that this blog, and others that I read (many in the sidebar), discuss liberal columns more often than conservative columns. I could be wrong, however, and will be willing to change my mind if shown otherwise

What bothers me is the fact that many conservatives (including some I know) refuse to even look at columns by people they describe as “liberal.” Not to pontificate here, but allow me to say, that as a liberal on most issues, I regularly read columnists like Bill Kristol and I also peruse the WSJ editorial page. I was a regular reader of Safire when he had a column, and I read Krauthammer as well. I’m not afraid of reading something I might disagree with, and at certain times, reading conservative columns has caused me to re-think my views on an issue.

This seems to be common practice among liberals (trying to find out what conservatives think), so why is it that conservatives find it so distasteful to read columns/editorials by liberals?

Theater critics aren’t qualified to wash my car, much less comment on world political economy.