I have to agree with that - when Frank J. made a big deal about her being back I thought, "Wow, if Frank likes her I have GOT to check her blog out!"

What I'm about to say is probably going to NOT help me in my quest to become a power-house blogger like you but... I don't get Bill Whittle either. Am I the only one in the world? When his last essay came out the blogosphere was electrified - you couldn't find a blog that DIDN'T link to Eject!x3.

Except mine, and that was probably stupid after having read your advice on how to attract more readers (very good advice by the way and thanks for writing that).

I think the key to being a "top shelf" "daily read" blog is relationships and good old fashioned time. Unless you are a good looking gal like sarahK and can cutie-pie your way in you just have to be tenascious and get to know other bloggers at your level - that way if one of you takes off, chances are he/she will take his/her friends with.

I used to love Rachel's rants - especially when she was in college and was taking apart idiot young college student arguments. And she had a lovely way of trashing Michael Moore.

But not everyone likes her stuff - my husband could never understand why I found her so funny. Like all blog reading, it's a personal preference. Many of the really BIG bloggers really like her which certainly adds to her mystique.

I think also, Rachel was one of the first real bloggers. She was doing something truly unique when she started. Now you can find so many people doing the same thing, there's no way to even begin reading them all. Which means, if you start reading her now, you won't have the same - Wow - someone got on the internet and said that! type of moment. But just stop to consider for a moment, the impact she had on so many people by being one of the first...

I will watch and see what happens - the last announcement got me all excited and then - she didn't really DO anything (even though I love the doggie pics). If she really gets back into it, I will be very happy. And I'll be happy to announce it, but I'll be waiting to see.

I never liked her, never read her. I tried a number of times, I really, really did, but I have to agree with you on the quality of ranting-I need more than just the word "asshat" and a picture of a gun to make me like a post. I do support her that it's a peachy idea to support and encourage new bloggers, but come on-exit stage left already, Rache.

She's real hit and miss. When someone linked to a rant, it was usually a hit. When I wandered over on my own, it was usually a miss.

Then again, since turning on the default RSS feed in MT was too much trouble for her, she wasn't on my aggregator and therefore was below my radar 99% of the time. Her loss.

If *I* sodded off, no-one would miss me...

I'm so with you on this one, harvey. I even wrote about it once somewhere but can't be bothered searching for it. You hit the nail on the head - I think she supported certain bloggers who hit the big time and that created this self-perpetuating fan club thing.

It just goes to proves the Blogosphere's first law: it's not fair and never will be.

I'll be the contrary voice here and say that I've been a Rachel Lucas fan since I first read her stuff. Was her work always top notch? No. No one can be expected to win every time. But her rants were spectacular, and they consisted of more than just the word "asshat". However, I will say that during her last 6 months or so of full-time blogging her material started to go down a bit in quality. My guess is that graduating school, moving into a house and getting a real job changed her perspective somewhat, which affected her posts. I'm sorry that she's done, apparently for good this time.
Just my opinion, of course.

I got into blogging only recently and though I've heard what a great ranter and voice she was, I haven't seen it. All I have seen is the production of her quitting and then not, and then again. Not to be negative, but isn't that almost Kerryistic?

SHE got one of her posts on Capitalism Magazine alongside the work of Walter Williams and Thomas Sowell. Imagine MY disappointment for a second.

I don't begrudge Rachel her fame, I was just honestly curious.

Rocky - yeah, you're the only non-Whittle fan in the world :-) Whittle's thing is that he has insanely long posts that are full of imagery & passion. If your preference is for short, punchy posts, I can see where it'd be a turn off. I don't hold it against you.

Sally - I would miss you. Very much. It'd be like losing a soulmate, because you're one of the few people who REALLY gets the whole Evil Glenn schtick.

PG & Teresa - probably right about the change in life circumstances causing the decline in quality. When you don't have to argue with idiots day in & day out, you lose your edge.

I noticed she hasn't out her blogroll back up yet, but she did make sure the "make a donation" button was on there.

Priorities I guess.