Steve Benen heads to MSNBC

By Michael J.W. Stickings

Back in the day, I was an occasional guest blogger at Steve Benen's wonderful blog The Carpetbagger Report, sitting in for a weekend or a few days here and there while he was away. It was a wonderful experience, and it helped me, back when this blog was still fairly new and I was still trying to find myself as a blogger, become a better blogger. And, of course, it was an honor simply that Steve liked my blog and my blogging, and that gave me a lot of encouragement to keep going.

Steve moved on to Washington Monthly, where for the past few years he's been writing its Political Animal blog and otherwise emerging as one of the truly essential liberal-progressive voices in the blogosphere and indeed in political commentary generally, no matter the medium. I have always regarded him as a mentor of sorts, along with Joe Gandelman of The Moderate Voice, an example to follow in my own writing. We don't agree on everything, if on most things, and my voice is quite different than his, but I have always admired his extensive knowledge, ability to communicate, and commitment to Democratic politics and liberal-progressive principles. And, well, he's just a wonderful guy. Not many people would have been so generous with their time and trust to a new blogger just trying to make a bit of a mark. He was. And he has continued to be a friend.

As you may have heard, Steve is moving to MSNBC, where he'll be a producer for Rachel Maddow and a network contributor. And he'll still be blogging, thankfully -- at The Maddow Blog. It's a wonderful step for him and his career, and I think he's fully deserving of it.

On behalf of everyone associated with this blog, and from me personally, I wish to send him our most sincere congratulations.

Best of luck, Steve.