Bloggers, where are they now?

In advertising, you're only as good as your last project. "What have you done for me, lately?" in a sense. But in blogging, are you only as good as your last post?

It seems that in blogging, people are latching onto their has-been legends more than potential. For instance, Robert Scoble, the once public non-PR face of Microsoft; Dave Winer, the father of RSS; Strumpette, the infamous shit-talker (with whom rumors of Strumpette actually being run by a man and not the claimed woman author still exist) on Steve Rubel; etc. Despite the highly exaggerated perception of authority, they all bring unique content to the table (which is what makes a successful blogger and how you end up on my RSS reader).

In a 'sphere of seemingly one-hit-wonders, is the perception of authority based on SAT scores or true ambition and passion? Or, do the two automatically go hand-in-hand? Sure, bloggers have a resume that reaches far above and beyond, but unless you're a superfan, they remain known for 'that one thing' rather than a constant changing force in the blogosphere through their words. Actions do often seem larger than words, but should words be so easily overlooked because of a history of actions?

The blogosphere claims to embrace new emerging and different voices, but the perception of authority can be repressive. New bloggers are only as good as their last post, but is 'blog tenure' deserving of such leniancy?