Bon Voyage Paul. I'll definitely keep reading your stuff. You've always written the most engaging pieces, especially when compared to the rest of the content in the generally banal medium known as the blogosphere.

It seems this was a long time coming. As I recall, you've previously commented on what kinds of posts get comments versus what kinds of posts should, yes?

Paul, you are a pleasure to read, and I know folks are sad to see you go.

I actually read your China post this morning with great interest. I am on my second straight Chinese roomate, so I have been paying a little more attention to China, and I was thankful for your thoughtful post in the midst of a blogosphere full of people like K-Lo making one line attempts at rational discussion of US-Sino relations. I guess I am more in line with Thomas P.M. Barnett in thinking that a strong Chinese military might be a great thing--so long as their path towards liberalization continues to progress and America effectively courts them as an ally. Posts on Chinese military policy just aren't as accessible or inflammatory as posts on gay marriage. You actually have to do your research to comment on Chinese military capability. You just have to have a hot head (like me) to spout off on Pat Robinson.

Anyhow, great job. Good luck in everything. You are appreciated. And you brought a lot of flavor to ITA (an great overall site).

Paul - best wishes on your career - and an invite to guest post whenever you want on whatever topic you want at blogs4God. We'll always have the welcome mat out for ya.

Paul,

I did read your posts, but most of the things you wrote about were things I wasn't highly informed on. Better for me just to try to learn a little than enter into discussions that were often out of my league.

Perhaps I should have at least given you a thanks for your posts now and then.

I second what Joel said. "Great post" comments seem a little shallow, so I haven't commented very often on Paul's posts.

I guess I'll have to hit the blogroll link to PM.C more often.

I third what Joel said. Some posts invite comments, others just invite reading and thinking.

I'll fourth Joel's comment, and add this caveat. Most of the time when I read Paul's posts, they are just so meticulously argued that I feel I have nothing to add to them and nothing to dispute about them. I've had some of the same thoughts he has had, however, when I've written posts that got no response at all. I've then wondered if that's because they were so well written that no one could find anything to say, or if they just were tired of rehashing the same old arguments.

At any rate, I think it's very sad that Paul is leaving ITA, but I will certainly continue to read his personal blog. I think Paul is one of the very best writers in the blogosphere and I will gladly read what he writes regardless of where it is posted.

This is a pity. At least with Brayton's departure, I could console myself that he would make more frequent contributions to Positive Liberty.

To echo many of the comments above, your posts have always been particularly well-considered and well-researched. If this meant not repeating the party line, or even openly flouting it, then you don't ever seem to have noticed much, and this won my admiration right from the start. Do keep writing at your personal site (whose new design is spectacular, by the way), and rest assured that you will always have an avid reader in me.