Could somebody please lend Conor Friedersdorf a quick shot of testosterone?

Because he doesn’t seem to be producing any of his own.

If you are a regular reader of The Other McCain, Riehl World View, or American Power – and, let’s be honest, anyone regularly clicking Trogward most certainly is – then you’ve noticed the scattered brouhaha between those three gentlemen (UPDATE – four gentlemen) and Conor Friedersdorf.

I won’t pretend that I’ve read every word of said dustup. Weighed every argument. There’s a lot of electrons dying on both sides, and I simply can’t engage in every blogospherical tiff.

There are only 24 hours in a day, after all.

I have, however, attempted to retain at least some semblance of objectivity. My natural inclination (due to acquaintance and past mutual aid) is to support McCain, Riehl, and Dr. Douglas. Still, I felt a need not to simply leap onto the anti-Friedersdorf bandwagon (as I’ve jumped onto such bandwagons in the past).

So I’m trying to give Conor a fair shake. Maybe I’m succeeding, maybe not. I am fairly well accomplished at hyperbole and spin. If I tried, I could find plenty of ground to defend. His ground, that is.

But, y’know…

…well, just take this comment he left at American Power:

Should you take the time to converse with me like a gentleman, I’ll happily engage your substantive arguments, and I think you’ll find that your wrongheaded assumptions about me will change.

Oh, honey. Are they not being gentlemen? That’s so…so…mean. Quick, stick your nose up into the air and pretend you’re too good to mix it up with the riff raff!

Hang on…nauseous…

Sigh.

Ironically, this rather wussified episode makes me that much more inclined to enter the fray…on Friedersdorf’s side. If only because I hate watching a blowout.

Please note: I’m not saying I could turn the tide. I’m not suggesting I would win any such engagement. It’d be like Pickett’s Charge, in a way: it wouldn’t change the outcome; it would just make for a better story.

I would, however, smile a lot more often as I clicked the refresh button on my stat counter.

So lay off Conor, you bunch of jerks. Don’t make me come over there.