I don't think that Larry should get rid of this blog or the comments section. Public speculation about a great number of issues - particularly those surrounding this 'unexpected' transition of officeholder - will occur regardless of forum availability. Therefore, I think it could actually benefit Larry and the public to continue with the blog and comments, provided that Larry continues to exercise the discretion and diplomacy that characterize the blog and his personality in general. As far as 'random semi-anonymous people' are concerned, Larry knows who most of the posters are and is capable of chosing which comments merit a reply, which are best ignored, and finally, which comments are best deleted.

The world of political blogging appears to be staying put for a while, and, considering the local following Larry has built, it hardly seems appropriate for him to disappear into the fray at the precise moment people are trying to get a glimpse of him as a real person who is about to assume an important post.

Finally, given the local bloggers who follow county politics, if the comments aren't being made here, they will certainly be made elsewhere. Why not get them out into the open, where concerns can be addressed in a pro-active and constructive manner?