The American Spectator

As you have read by now, managing editor Joseph Lawler is leaving us for a new Real Clear Politics project. For the past several years, Joe has been hard at work behind the scenes, enforcing deadlines, fact-checking articles, dealing with vendors, and otherwise making the trains run on time. It’s the kind of labor that tends to go unnoticed but is absolutely indispensable to putting out a monthly magazine and daily website.

I’ve nevertheless been pleased to see Joe increasingly venturing out under his own byline, offering a fresh and intelligent perspective in his articles and blog posts. Joe has really taken ownership of the Spectacle, improving the blog and trying to enhance the experience for our readers.

That combination of hard work and solid journalism is going to serve Joe well as he moves on in his career. I suspect, and hope, that we are going to be hearing a lot from our distinguished colleague in the years ahead.