Rich Liberals Vow to Fund Think Tanks - Aim Is to Compete With Conservatives

Washington Post ^ | August 7, 2005 | Thomas B. Edsall

[summer]

At least 80 wealthy liberals have pledged to contribute $1 million or more apiece to fund a network of think tanks and advocacy groups to compete with the potent conservative infrastructure built up over the past three decades.

The money will be channeled through a new partnership called the Democracy Alliance, which was founded last spring -- the latest in a series of liberal initiatives as the Democratic Party and its allies continue to struggle with the loss of the House and the Senate in 1994 and the presidency in 2000. Many influential Democratic contributors were left angry and despairing over the party's poor showing in last year's elections, and are looking for what they hope will be more effective ways to invest their support.

Financial commitments totaling at least $80 million over the next five years generated by the Democracy Alliance in recent months -- at a time when some liberal groups, such as the George Soros-backed America Coming Together, are floundering -- suggest that the group is becoming a player in the long-term effort to reinvigorate the left. The group has a goal of raising $200 million -- a sum that would inevitably come in part at the expense of more traditional Democratic groups, although alliance officials say donors have committed to maintaining past contribution levels....

[dsc]

I rather imagine that a "liberal think tank" will stand in the same relationship to a think tank as an abortuary with regard to a legitimate hospital.

[Wallace T.]

There is a significant difference between the American left of 2005 and American conservatism of 40 years ago. The racists, conspiracy theorists, libertarians, and other marginal people were not the mainstream of 1960s conservatism, in either the rank and file or the leadership. OTOH, the gay activists, the America is always in the wrong crowd, radical feminists, black and Hispanic exploiters of white guilt, advocates of permissiveness and extreme tolerance, and others of their ilk are the mainstream of the Democratic Party. Ever since the McGovern Presidential campaign, this crowd has become ever more ensconced in the party. The old style Democrats of the New Deal and Great Society eras have been marginalized.

[ken5050]

You can spend millions to drill a well, but if you're drilling in Death Valley, you ain't gonna find a drop of water..

[Terabitten]

The libs wouldn't know a "fact" if it came up at bit them on the ass.

And that, my FRiend, is exactly why this is such a good thing. The Dems need to start THINKING about their positions instead of feeling them. They've lost in the arena of ideas for the last ten years because they've not been thinking critically about their policies. This will be good for the Dems, and in the long run, good for the country.

[FreeAtlanta]

I wonder if there are so many RICH liberals because they lack ethics. Gathering money is easy, if you are willing to do anything and say anything. Making money ethically is more difficult, but a lot more productive to society.

[Inwoodian]

This is rearranging deck chairs on the Titanic. The same people who gave to the DNC or ACT will now give to this group. And that nincompoop, Howard Dean, will still complain about Reublicans and their rich friends. That's Howard Dean of Dean Witter fame, right?

[exile]

Lots of retired investment bankers still have acne. Nice to see that the Commie embraced capitalism when it suited him.

[mosquitobite]

Wow, lots of middle eastern names, Hollywood idiots, and the "not-liberally biased we tell ya!" media names. LOL!

[gaspar]

Rosenberg is a trust fund baby, fat playground kid, son of a Park Avenue investment banker and Yale grad. He is continually begging funds for the (non-tax deductable) New Democratic Network.

[DarthVader]

Why should liberals fund a think tank because they don't think.

[agitator]

That cartoon should read the "Byrd Memorial Highway"

[unixfox]

Then DEC went out of business.

Actually I think Compaq bought them.

[Reaganesque]

A view inside a liberal "think tank":

[Amalie]

"However, if you look at what the Conservative movement did in the early days, they focused on getting rid of the kooks, i.e. KKK Members, John Birch Society members, etc.

"This is where progressives are going wrong. They still have the Al Frankens and Michael Moores hailed by the liberal establishment and the party that they closely identify themselves, the Democratic Party."

An important point about this. The problem is, they are now LED by those very voices, meaning they will be in an almost impossible position to distance themselves from that side of their party. They have yet to come up with a 'reasonable' approach to their viewpoint on the issues (and I use the term 'reasonable' only as a byword for falsehood, as a true socialist agenda is still not possible here...yet). Well, that's 80mil that won't be used to buy some blue state election.

Furthermore, it will be very interesting to see how the '06 elections go; if the ranting of Dean, Schumer, Conyers, etc goes unchecked, I think you will see a greater move to the right. I'm not super happy with the recent legislative behavior of the "conservative" Republicans, but wouldn't trust the Democrats with receipts from a lemonade stand.

[MoochPooch]

The number of rational people you'd be able to fit inside an airplane restroom (with room to spare).

[summer]

I think another important difference is the right seemed willing and able to plan in a very LONG TERM way. Dem leaders are like the "gimme now" generation, expecting change overnight. I don't see Dem leaders being able to stay in anything for the long haul. Look at how quickly Soros pulled all his money-marbles out of the game and went home, for just one example.

[summer]

Re your post #37 - Thanks for posting that link. Dem leaders need to remove names of the deceased from that list, including Andrea Dworkin, who passed away recently, and, now, Peter Jennings. (May they both rest in peace.)

[Constitutionalist Conservative]

At least 80 wealthy liberals

Party-of-the-poor-and-downtrodden update!

[pabianice]

Then DEC went out of business. Actually I think Compaq bought them.

And the difference is...?

[pabianice]

Wasn't it Digital that rented every hotel room in Boston and also a cruise liner in Boston Harbor for a big sales meeting/exposition/wine $ dine/customer-seeking week long event in the 80's?

Yes. "DECWORLD." DEC's idea of marketing.

(p.s. it didn't work)