We Need More Gadflies Not Less

Gadfly

noun, plural gadflies 

1. : any of various flies (such as a horsefly, botfly, or warble fly) that bite or annoy livestock

2. : a person who stimulates or annoys other people especially by persistent criticism  

• a political gadfly

IR, Paul Ogden, Charlie White have all been accused of being gadflies. Usually meant to convey the impression that people like us exist only to irritate or annoy others with our blogging and activism. We will not speak for Misters Ogden and White. Speaking for ourselves we choose to hold public officials and others accountable when they act contrary to the values they are supposed to uphold. If by speaking truth to power we irritate some people we say GOOD! If it was not for gadflies like Paul Ogden and the late great Gary Welsh. Dick Lugar would still be decomposing in his Senate seat from a state in which he has not resided since 1977. A more recent example of the need for gadflies is provided in Paul Ogden's most recent post Indianapolis Terminates Ballard-Era Electric/Hybrid Car Contract; Will Blue Indy Be Next? Paul discusses how after several years of him and the late great Gary Welsh banging the drum against former Indianapolis Greg Ballard's Indy-Vision boondoggle. Indianapolis Mayor Joe Hogsett has decided to cancel this ill advised deal. Yes it took many years. But the point is that the contract was eventually cancelled. Not all of our heroes share our enthusiasm for being the monkey in the wrench of our political parties. Jonah Goldberg of National Review and host of the outstanding "The Remnant" podcast voiced his opinion of how he feels having to be the political odd man out:

People who think I enjoy being the skunk in the garden party on my own side of the garden are wrong. I hate this shit. Hate it.

— Jonah Goldberg (@JonahNRO) February 20, 2018

Although we can understand Jonah's frustration we cannot share it to any significant degree. We tend to share the view of The Weekly Standard's Bill Kristol in this matter:

Being a nice guy, @Jonah doesn't enjoy being the skunk at the garden party on his own side of the garden. But considering what some on our side--if it still is our side--are now saying or doing, I'm convinced being a skunk at that garden party is both necessary and honorable. https://t.co/CWqjGnShWQ

— Bill Kristol (@BillKristol) February 20, 2018

On that note we would also say that if we are going to be the skunk's on the Republican Parties lawn we might as all stink together!