I thought SA’s readers might be interested in seeing who made the cut.

Social scientists are learning that conservatives have more of a sense of humor than liberals do.

(May I suggest they focus their further researches here, here, and here?)

A promising new Catholic blog.

Check it out.

Heh.

I especially like number three, which clearly applies to SA.

It’s been too long, I’m glad to be back.

Evidently Feddie has had some sort of nervous breakdown, because he has invited me to blog here at Southern Appeal once again.  This was the first site where I blogged, and it was on this blog that I invented (at least I think I invented it) the term “cranky conservative.”

Anyway, I look forward to doing my part to advance the cause of theocracy, no matter how gobsmackingly vile it may be.  I invite you to check out the crankycon, where I’ll be cross-posting from.  I also recommend the political bear network of blogs.  if you’re one of the three people left who don’t have a blog, or even if you already have one, you can host one on the bear for free.  I believe a job-networking link has also been added to the site, so you can check that out as well.

Til then, I’ll leave you with this, only because I can’t seem to embed videos on my own blog.

Stuart Buck: Blogger Extraordinaire.

(LvCrank)

This looks like a promising new blog.

and all that jazz.

(As if anything Haystack said is “worse” than this tripe)

Courtesy of Ken Lammers.

Hmmmm. Given Gerald’s very public embrace of gay “marriage,” I can’t say this name change of his blog is all that surprising. I do find it odd that he made the change without an accompanying post explaining his reasoning for doing so, but perhaps one is in the works.

In any event, the cafeteria is apparently now wide open over at Gerald’s place.

An interesting read for those of us who’ve been doing this for a while.

The fine folks at Fidelis have asked me to come on board as a contributor to their new blog, and I’ve agreed to do so. As I note in my first post, I suspect that I’ll be cross-posting quite a bit.

RedState has released the beta version of its new website to the public.

Check it out!

Americans United for Life Blog.

Check it out!

One of my very favorite organizations, Fidelis, now has a blog. Check it out!

(Hat tip: Jay)

My good friend, Erick Erickson, did a fantastic job on Hannity & Colmes last night. You can see his performance here.

Congrats to former SA blogger Adam J. White, who is now blogging at “Convictions,” Slate’s new blawg.

Various and sundry blogger reactions to Barack Obama’s assertion that an out-of-wedlock baby is a “punishment” to the mother:

Michelle Malkin:

I wonder how pro-life Catholic Democrats will react to Barack Obama’s pregnancy-as-punitive and pregnancy-as-inconvenience-on-par-with STDs rhetoric? There’s a careless callousness in Obama’s phrasing yesterday that’s definitely not going to sit well with the staunch Pennsylvania pro-life voting bloc.

Stop the ACLU:

Regardless of your feelings on sexual education, this statement oozes with animosity. It also reveals the true heart of Barack Obama. Despite his so-called “understanding” of both sides of the abortion issue, any person that could utter such cold, abhorrence when discussing a fellow human being has no intention of displaying any goodwill to pro-lifers.

Sister Toldja:

His squarely leftist view of abortion isn’t surprising, but the phraseology is interesting coming from a supposedly ‘mainstream Democrat,’ and like MM, I’m wondering how this will play with the pro-life Democrats in PA … and beyond. What’s next? Him calling an unborn child a “parasite“? (more…)

Congrats, Tim!

Congrats to former SA blogger Adam White, who has resumed blogging at Slate’s new blawg, “Convictions.”

COA Review.  A promising new appellate blawg.

Check it out.

Then go vote for SA here.

But is SA really dead? Or is it merely asleep?

Only time will tell.

Update: Gracias.

I realize that this will come as a shock to SA readers, but for professional and personal reasons I have decided it is time for Southern Appeal to call it quits. In doing so, I cannot even begin to express how much I appreciate the contributions of my co-bloggers and many loyal readers/commenters over the past four years. I have learned so much from each of you, and you have all enriched my life in incalculable ways. Thank you so much for everything.

When I started SA, I never dreamed it would amount to anything. It was just a means for me to vent about political matters during the two years I lived the monastic life of a federal appellate law clerk.  But with my extensive commentary/coverage on Judge William H. Pryor Jr.’s nomination to the Eleventh Circuit, SA’s traffic went up dramatically (thanks in large part to Howard Bashman and NRO), and things have never been the same since then. Indeed, SA’s popularity provided me with a special gift: a soapbox to air my views on issues I care about deeply (e.g., abortion, Darfur). I have not always been the most eloquent or able spokesman, and I have often let my passion/temper get the best of me. But our readers have been gracious in forgiving me for my many shortcomings, and I can only hope and pray that I have done more good than harm over the years.  To those who I have offended, or been less than charitable with in my posts, please forgive me.  I am a work-in-progress; and I pray daily that God with shape me into the person I need to be.

There is much more that I could and probably should say, but right now I just don’t have the words. I know this all “sounds” a little too melodramatic, but as I write this post I am coming to terms with just how much of me is wrapped up in this blog (perhaps too much methinks). In any event, it has been a great run. Thanks for the memories, folks. And God Bless.

Oh, and please have a Merry Christmas and Happy New Year.

Administrative note: SA will stay up on the web for the foreseeable future. If there is a kind soul who would be willing to offer free webhosting, so that SA’s archives can remain on the web for an extended period of time, please contact me via email. Also, I will update this post in the near future with a list of my co-bloggers’ other blogging homes, so that you can continue to enjoy their respective talents.

Update: Thank you all for the gracious comments. As promised, here is a list of my co-bloggers’ other blogging quarters and/or websites. I have also established a personal blog that will not contain any commentary, but will instead merely make note of my speaking engagements, radio/television appearances, publications, and the like. I won’t be posting at this blog on a regular basis, so it is probably best to simply subscribe to the feed if you’re interested in getting updates.

Steve Dillard: Steve Dillard

Professor Mike DeBow: Links, Point of Law, Division of Labour

Quin Hillyer: AmSpec Blog

William Watkins: South Carolina Appellate Law Blog 

Patrick Carver: Southron Views

Nathan Hallford: Confirm Them

Major Joel Leggett: Grim’s Hall

Proximo: Dallas Sidebar

Portia: De Novo

Zach Brissett: In Toon With the World

Hunter Baker: AmSpec Blog

Professor Francis Beckwith: FrancisBeckwith.com and Right Reason

Jim Dunn: Do What Now?

Update II: Muchas gracias to Joshua LeBlanc of CyberCatholics for agreeing to host SA’s archives free o’ charge. If you have any webhosting needs, please consider using CyberCatholics.

If any of SA’s readers are interested in participating, you can do so here.

A cool new Catholic blog. Here’s a taste of the “sister’s” writing style:

St. Rose of Lima was aware that if her beauty caused boys to have…bad thoughts…she was causing them to sin, which by the way, is a sin on her. Somebody needs to explain this to Brittany Spears, post haste

. . . .

Next point: a penitent is anyone who is doing penance, anyone who is sorry for their sins. Me, for example. All practicing Catholics. Probably Michael Richards. Obviously not Britney Spears.

(LvRWatMW)

Who continues to mock and denigrate core teachings of the Church he professes to be a member of and love.

That is, when he isn’t mocking and denigrating the religious practices of Mormons.

Check out James Glassman’s new venture for AEI, which launched last week.  Here’s the mission statement:

The American is a magazine of ideas for business leaders. Modeled on Henry Luce’s original vision for Fortune Magazine, it surveys the full scope of American life through the lens of business and economics. The magazine is published six times a year–our first issue came out on November 15, 2006. Our web site, American.com, takes the same editorial mission to the web, with original writing every day and a selection of thought-provoking links from around the web. The American is a project of The American Enterprise Institute.

Yessiree, Mr. Andrew, we’re just a bunch of racist, freedom-hating rednecks. 

Yep, you’ve got us pegged.

Todd is a native southerner and a news anchor for Fox News Radio in [gasp!] New York. You can check out his blog, Todd’s Journal here. Stop by and pay him a visit, folks. It looks like a promising read. 

Oh, and you gotta love the introduction he penned for his blog:

I’ve left my beloved South to find my fortune north of the Mason-Dixon line. It’s a barren land — void of the blessings that make the South the promised land. The people are nice enough, but there’s no Waffle House, no Cracker Barrel, and for some reason, I can’t seem to get a glass of sweet iced tea to save my life. So enjoy the ruminations on my journey as a Tennessee Volunteer in New York City.

A nice profile on my buddy, David Lat.