A Tale of Two Barrys

In our earlier report about the National Press Club debate involving Glenn Reynolds, Joe Trippi, and Barry Lynn, we were careful to distinguish between Barry C. Lynn — senior fellow at the New America Foundation, who participated in last night’s debate — and Rev. Barry W. Lynn, executive director of Americans United for Separation of Church and State.

Our care was rewarded by this amusing email message, from Barry W. Lynn:

Thank you for the helpful clarification that I, Barry W. Lynn, am not Barry C. Lynn (although I do not really know Barry C. Lynn, he was kind enough to be on my radio show one day, and has been even kinder in giving my number to CNN when they wake him up at odd hours to comment on Jerry Falwell).

However, in attempting to write a comment about your sparkling coverage of the Goliath debate, I noticed that you don’t just let anyone post. This is a good thing.

But I would like to post. I have just given exclusive tips to both the Washington Post and the New York Times, so I am all tipped out. However, I think I deserve to be allowed to post just because you linked to an old (and frankly horrifying) picture of myself, which I do not use anymore (however, I have not retained Jessica Alba’s intellectual property lawyer to try to stop publication as I am a First Amendment absolutist). Although I am a bit older than many of your readers, I was once admitted to Studio 54 (although, as a minister and generally ethical person, I will concede that was when the place had already been turned into a theater, and I was seated as the fourth at a table of three Long Island hairdressers to see Brooke Shields in “Cabaret”).

If this doesn’t get me into the “stable” (a word it is now acceptable to say in public, post-Oscars), it will only be one more cruel step in a life filled with rejection. Just last week Bill O’Reilly said I am “one of his favorite guests” but then nanoseconds later labelled me a “paranoid crazy.” Really, do you want to be associated with his camp?

Delightful! How could we deny a request like that? Welcome to our “stable,” Reverend Lynn!

Earlier: An Army of Davids Attacks Barry C. Lynn

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A Comment on Comments

Earlier this week, we rolled out Wonkette comments. We’d now like to take a moment to invite you to join the ranks of our commenters. (Commentators? Eh, whatever, it’s Friday.)

Please don’t misunderstand us: this is not some velvet-rope kinda thing. If it were, we wouldn’t be the people in charge of admissions! It’s just a system we’ve instituted to prevent the anarchy that would ensue under a system of completely open comments (a la the Washington Post blog).

It’s really not hard to get a comments invite — truth be told, we give them out like candy. We’re just looking for a few people who want to chat, care enough to comment every now and then, and might occasionally have some good political gossip to send our way.

So please — send us a tip or two, and we’ll send you comment invites for you and your friends. Happy commenting!

Earlier: Introducing Wonkette comments
Wonkette Comments FAQ

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The Jurassic Beaver Is Closed For Business

Our inbox has been flooded with hilarious responses to our request for “Jurassic beaver” jokes. We will review and consider all of the responses that we have already received; but due to overwhelming reader response, we will not be accepting further submissions at this time.

Thank you for your contributions!

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There Has To Be a Joke In Here Somewhere

But it’s late in the blogging day, and we’re too tired to come up with one — so please make up your own punchline, and put it into the comments for this post. (Or send us a clever punchline by email, and we’ll send you some comment invites in return.)

Update: As explained here, we are no longer accepting new “Jurassic beaver” punchlines. But we thank you for your interest.

‘Jurassic Beaver’ Turns Theory on Its Tail [CNN]

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Introducing Wonkette Comments

Blogs are conversation, back-and-forth, breaking down barriers, blah blah blah. Whatever. We just want you to create content for us. And keep refreshing those damn pages!

So say hello to Wonkette Comments, a freewheelin’ cocktail party located just below every post. As is generally the case in DC, though, access comes at a price — commenting privileges, like seats at the Wednesday Meeting, are invite-only.

As we speak, comment invites are making their way to bloggers, media people, Hill interns, government moles, frequent tipsters, and people whose business cards we’ve found in our pockets after last call at Stetson’s. In the spirit of Gmail, we’re giving our invitees extra comment invitations to hand out to their most trusted and least discreet friends.

To learn how you, too, can pay-for-play, read our Comments Faq (to which we add only that those wishing for invites could also try buying us a drink).

The first round of invites goes out this afternoon, so check your inboxes, power players and office drones.

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