Updated June, 2009

Writing autobiographically is difficult, so I thought the best way to approach this is via an FAQ, even if the Q's are not really FA.

How long have you been doing this?

I have been blogging one way or another since the 2004 election. I have been writing for RealClearPolitics since November, 2005. This blog - named after the original "spit 'n' polish" construction once hosted on Blogger.com - began in May, 2007.

What's your educational background?

I'm ABD in political science at the University of Chicago. I went there originally to study political philosophy - only to learn that nobody really cares about J.S. Mill, Karl Popper, F.A. Hayek and the other philosophers who resonate with me. A notable professor once explained to me that Popper's critique of Rousseau in the Open Society and Its Enemies is not to be taken seriously. That was enough for me to get the idea. [Popper's critique is aimed at Plato, Hegel, and Marx. Not Rousseau.]

So, I ditched the political philosophy angle and began focusing on American politics. My knowledge base is deepest in the American political parties. I'm working on a dissertation about them at the moment, though obviously this blog keeps me busy.

What qualifies you to write a blog?

I have three advantages, I suppose.

First, as mentioned above, the political parties are my point of entry into political science. The parties touch pretty much everything in politics, so this has forced me to develop a fairly broad base of knowledge. I've had to learn about public opinion, campaigns and elections, political history, realignment theory, and so on. Unsurprisingly, two areas where I am lacking are the courts and the bureaucracy. You'll rarely see me write about them.

Second, I have a special interest in the methodologies of social science. This gives me the ability to do more data-heavy analysis on this page - as well as perspective on what makes for a good argument. Relatedly, I'm conversant in rational choice theory. I never learned the heavy mathematics of that subject, but I have a good practical understanding of it.

Third, I don't live in Washington - and thus am not afflicted with the Swamp Fever.

None of this should be taken to imply that I'm always right. I've screwed the pooch a number of times over the years. One thing I try very hard to do is learn from my mistakes.

How can we know you're unbiased?

Actually, you should know that I am biased. I make no claims to be "objective," which I think is just a convenient device designed by journalists during the media consolidation of the 20th century. I see my personal worldview reflected in everything I write, and I'd never deny that this is the case.

In the interest of full disclosure, I'll share a bit of that view here:

Above all, I believe in epistemological modesty. I don't think we actually know very much about the world - certainly not nearly as much as many claim to. This inclines me to conservatism, and ultimately the Republican Party. The connection to the latter is enhanced by my belief in the positive benefits of American business (which needs to be checked but is nevertheless enhances the public good even as its goal is personal profit) as well as my modest cultural conservatism.

That being said, I have a great deal of admiration for the Democratic Party. It honorably represents those whose interests or perspectives differ from mine. Ultimately, my opinion is that one party or the other cannot secure the common good of this diverse republic - as each can only hope to represent the views of a portion of the people. Instead, the public interest is best promoted by the competition of the two parties.

Ultimately, the only issue over which you'll me see get on the soapbox is campaign reform. I am a believer in the benefits of responsible party government, which is something we do not really have in this country. It is necessary to distinguish between Republican and Democratic partisans on the one hand, and the politicians on the other. Most politicians are above all concerned about their own positions in government - and so have worked over the years to decrease the competitiveness of elections, thus diminishing democratic accountability. I find this bothersome, and you can expect me to speak out when I notice another instance of it.

So, does that mean you have an agenda?

Not really, beyond an agenda to do good work that's insightful and sensible. That's easier said than done, I have to admit!

But in terms of a political agenda, not so much.

Any Interests Outside Politics?

I'm a native Pittsburgher and a proud citizen of The Steelers Nation. My favorite shows on TV are 30 Rock and Breaking Bad, and I have near-encyclopedic knowledge of the Seinfeld universe.

I love to listen to rock and roll. Just about everything you'll read on this blog was written while something good was playing.

Top ten favorite albums (in order):

1. Sweetheart of the Rodeo, The Byrds
2. Exile on Main Street, The Rolling Stones
3. The Basement Tapes, Bob Dylan and The Band
4. Music from Big Pink, The Band
5. Highway 61, Revisited, Bob Dylan
6. All Things Must Pass, George Harrison
7. Grievous Angel, Gram Parsons
8. Live at Leeds, The Who
9. The Village Green Preservation Society, The Kinks
10. From Elvis in Memphis, Elvis Presley

The Who used to feature more prominently on the list - but frankly I soured on them after they continued on after the Ox died the quintessential rock 'n' roll death. How can you have the Who without Thunderfingers? Plus, Wire and Glass was derivative and awful, which is probably why I see ten copies of it at every used record store I go to.

Ten albums I've been enjoying over the last several weeks (in no particular order):

-Warpaint Live, The Black Crowes
-Time Out of Mind, Bob Dylan
-Traffic, Traffic
-Echoes, Gene Clark with the Gosdin Brothers
-White Light, Gene Clark
-No Other, Gene Clark
-Roadmaster, Gene Clark
-The Fantastic Expedition of Dillard and Clark, Dillard and Clark
-Rides Again, The James Gang
-Whispering Pines: Live at the Getaway, 1985, Richard Manuel

As you can tell, I'm pretty streaky. I like to listen to a bunch of albums from the same artist at the same time. Right now, that's mostly Gene Clark, who was originally in the Byrds.

Both lists sample heavily from British invasion bands as well as American country rock, which is something I've come to love in the last few years (though, to paraphrase the Dude, I hate the frickin' Eagles). Frankly, a lot of this is due to following the Black Crowes live performances, either in concert or through downloads (perfectly legal...they allow tapings!). They're one of the truly great American rock bands out there - and while their shows sample heavily from their extensive catalogue, they also draw on oft-overlooked classics. For instance, the first time I ever appreciated Gene Clark, Ry Cooder, Delaney and Bonnie, the Flying Burrito Brothers, Leon Russell, and a host of others was by hearing the Crowes interpret them. They know so much about American music they rival Bob Dylan. Well...not quite. But they know a lot, and listening to them has been a real education.