A note to the readers of Burkablog
It has always been my policy that anyone may post comments on this blog. In fact, a large part of the success of this blog has been the community of commenters that has developed around it. I have only asked that comments show respect for other readers, as well as for the public figures who are mentioned in blog posts and comments.
Unfortunately, from time to time, and, increasingly in recent weeks, some commenters have been posting scurrilous remarks about public figures, some of them of a very personal nature. In other cases, readers have taken over comment threads by posting long responses that are not at all related to the topic at hand. As a result, I have considered moderating comments before they are published, but I think that would take away from the spontaneity of the blog. I want to do that only as a last resort.
Consequently, I would respectfully request that readers refrain from posting material containing sexual innuendo or allegations of crimes and/or conspiracies. I will not allow contributors to post inappropriate comments about individuals who are public figures. There is plenty to write about in the daily events that take place in this state. Cogent criticism and analysis is always welcome. Inappropriate comments will be deleted immediately.
Thank you for respecting these guidelines–and for reading this blog.
Paul Burka
WUSRPH says:
Thanks…It will probably not detere them…but it is a start..But if we expect “them” to comply the rest of us will have to be good too…Since all of us have slipped on occasion.
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Miss Fancy and Aunt Nancy Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 1:20 pm
A more accurate title for this post would be, “A note to Robert Morrow.”
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JohnBernardBooks says:
Well stated Paul, I will be happy to moderate.
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paulburka Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 12:57 pm
Thank you, JBB
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eastTxR says:
Glad we will have to read less Morrow. Thanks Paul! Now, let’s get back to trashing our opponents.
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paulburka Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 1:01 pm
The policy applies generally, not just to Mr. Morrow. He is welcome to post within the groundrules established for the blog.
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South Texan says:
Bravo, Paul! I agree totally.
Perhaps you also should request readers to post comments under only one name. It has been called to my attention that a person may post under different names, thereby creating the wrong impression that multiple readers support or oppose an issue or subject.
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paulburka Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
This gets into tech issues that are beyond the scope of my expertise. I’ll have our folks check it out.
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The Mustache That Dare Not Speak Its Name Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 1:17 pm
IP address logging isn’t hard to do and usually such comments come in rapid succession.
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Bill C says:
Thank you Paul. I am saddened by the types of comments and ads used in media in recent years. I am also astonished at what the public accepts as fact without even basic analysis or examination. I appreciate your position.
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Anonymous says:
block morrow and problem solved
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Robert Morrow Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 1:18 pm
At least I put my name on every thing I say on the internet. Unlike you and 95% of the posters on Burka Blog.
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thebigeasy2000 Reply:
September 18th, 2012 at 9:51 am
Thanks for your honesty Robert!
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orange texan says:
Good luck….Your request will be ignored by the many who post this type of info..It will not be cleaned up until you ban some posters..However,I doubt you are capable of that……….
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paulburka Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 1:02 pm
I am not going to ban individuals, but I will continue to monitor posts for compliance with the rules I set forth above.
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paulburka says:
Not funny.
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The Mustache That Dare Not Speak Its Name says:
Paul – good move, though overdue. Hope it also applies to standard-issue internet trolls who post merely for the purpose of disrupting discussions.
I also hope I get brushed and shampooed today, because that didn’t happen this weekend. Though I’m not suggesting you could do something about that.
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Statehouse says:
Seriously?
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anita Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 1:30 pm
So much for respecting the guidelines . . . that lasted about 2 hours and 15 minutes.
What’s your next move, Paul?
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Spiro Eagleton says:
Burka posts a piece on his blog respectfully asking for his readers to avoid certain types of comments on here and Morrow responds in a way that is simply begging Burka to ban him. Burka has drawn a line in the sand and Morrow just rubbed it out with his foot and has now pushed Burka in the chest and dared him to do something about it.
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LOL Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
Spot on Spiro. Burka, this is just pathetic.
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paulburka Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 6:51 pm
Future posts by Mr. Morrow will be removed.
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Brian says:
Morrow – You hit several of the key points, but you forgot about fluoride in the water supply.
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anon Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 9:32 pm
Con trails is the new floride.
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Beerman says:
Maybe RM should have a column in “The New” TM?
Paul, where were you in the September issue of TM?
I always look forward to your articles. I hope that you were only on vacation, and not just part of “The Old” TM?
Keep up the good works!
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paulburka Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 6:54 pm
I was working on a cover story. Someone else wrote “Behind the Lines.”
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Beerman Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 8:13 pm
Ok, thanks.
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Showmethe$ says:
“Brian says:
Morrow – You hit several of the key points, but you forgot about fluoride in the water supply.”
Are you claiming that most municipal water suppliers do or do not use fluoride in their water supply?
Paul, at least Morrow does not respond to the personal attacks he takes from the neo-con trolls.
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Brian says:
That was sarcasm, not an attack. I am most certainly not a neo-con. The fluoride issue is of conspiracy theories involving people going on about the New World Order and Trilateral Commission.
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Robert Morrow Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 3:08 pm
“Flouride” is not my issue. Inner circle members of the Council on Foreign Relations, the Trilateral Commission and Bilderberger attendees are often up to their eyeballs in “conspiracies” by the very natural of their positions – intelligence, military, government, high level business. I assure you they care who runs other countries and they take steps (covert action, assassinations, wars) to “align” their policies. Henry Kissinger would be your classic insider 24/7 schemer. The Rockefellers for decades supported these groups.
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texun Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 9:18 pm
Morrow, There are hundreds of Rockefellers.
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texun Reply:
September 19th, 2012 at 9:48 pm
Actually, there are tens of thousands of Rockefellers. Even more DuPonts.
BTW, Morrow, imho, the most dastardly scheme carried out by the CFT, TLC and Bildenberger conspirators was inclusion of beach volleyball and badminton as Olympic events. Top that, if you can!Then they went on to the Ping Pong Plot, as you must know. Talk about insidious coniving!
The IOC denies the operation of those conspirators in its decisions, but the vehement denials only shows that they are deliberately covering up the evidence. Actually, the fact that no significant, incontrovertible evidence exists is conclusive proof of the plots–they have been so clever and effective at destroying all thraces of their dastardly deeds. Sound familiar, anyone?
Robert says:
So what was the purpose of the story Paul? To rev up the very thing you don’t want more of? Too funny.
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Spiro Eagleton says:
Burka’s blog is not subject to your 1st Amendment rights Mr. Morrow.
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Indiana Pearl says:
“boutique books and websites”? These sources are not credible.
I’m no fan of Rick Perry, but you are insinuating something you cannot prove. Mr. Burka should yank your comments as unsubstantiated.
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Dan C says:
I love this blog and many of the comments are thought provoking. Thank you to Mr. Burka for providing it as a forum. It must be very time consuming. I for one will not shed any tears if you frequently delete irrelevant ramblings like the one above from Morrow and others like it. If those people can restrain themselves in the future and stay on subject, fine. Sometimes they are even good for a laugh; i.e., the CIA controlled MSM, Trilateral Commission, etc. What a hoot.
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Showmethe$ says:
Sorry, Brian. Did not get your literary device known as sarcasm . Cool.
And Paul, what is up with the long guns that the troopers are wielding at the Mansion?
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paulburka Reply:
September 17th, 2012 at 6:56 pm
It’s almost deer season.
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Absolutely Sweet Marie says:
Paul, as you can see, the very persons your comments were intended for remain unaffected by them.
How about you get with your tech guys so that you flag certain individuals, and rather than ban them from posting altogether (we are for freedom of speech and against censorship, right?), how about making it to that all their comments automatically go to a specified section at the end of the postings. That way, the rest of us don’t have to read them at all, or be disrupted by them while reading more relevant, non-gratuitous postings on the actual topic.
You could call it the “ToMorrow Section.”
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Tex says:
Paul. pretty funny about the deer season coming to the Mansion. Would not surprise me if the cheerleader is having canned hunts at that locale.
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vietvet3 says:
Paul,
Long time TM subscriber and blog reader. Thanks for trying to apply a ‘weed eater’ to your great blog…..
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hooah! says:
Paul’s trying to treat the posters here like grownups.
Let’s see who is…and who isn’t one.
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Whoa, Nellie! says:
Without reading any of the comments to this post, I will only say that Mr. Burka’s post was only fair and reasonable. Many of the comments left on this site are irrelevant and eccentric, to say the least. I’m only surprised this column hasn’t been strictly policed before now. There’s always some trolls who won’t let well enough alone.
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Toby Marie says:
I’m glad you have implemented this policy. I don’t mind a differing opinion, I don’t mind sarcastic remarks, but the vulgar stuff, ads, and long winded posts are annoying.
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donuthin says:
I think it is a very good move. I long ago decided to skip over the comments of about three who are long winded with little of interest. Hopefully it will work.
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Mofus says:
Thank You mucho!
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Anonymous says:
Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Sam Rayburn thanks you. Lyndon Johnson thanks you. GHW Bush thanks you. GW Bush thanks you. All Texans thank you.
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John Nance Garner says:
Cactus Jack does not thank you. He tells you to get lost.
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Leslie Knope says:
Burka what is this cover story you’re working on? I’m patiently waiting on you to comment on the fact that Dew has not announced any committee chairs yet, with the exception of Senate Finance. Maybe I’m off base here and historically the lite guv always waits this long, but I’m willing to bet that’s not the case and the grapevine may be on to something. Also, I’m not sure why everyone in here lets RM get to them. Just scroll past like I do. Quit feeding the trolls! Yes, plural.
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