It’s hard not to notice that the conservative establishment seems to be having a bit of freak-out over progressive activists and bloggers getting together for the YearlyKos convention next month.
think Kristol and O’Reilly doth protest too much. By blasting the online progressive community to this extent, they’re actually making an implicit argument that this is a political force they find worrisome. Given their worldview, I think that’s a good thing.
And, finally, if Kristol wants to play the guilt-by-association game, and argue that political figures should distance themselves from those the establishment finds too extreme, I think the left should gladly engage in the debate.
I realize this is a point I feel compelled to make from time to time, but it simply amazes me that there are two distinct standards for political associations. High-profile Democrats are supposed to keep their distance from anyone who dares to say anything intemperate, but Republicans have no qualms about maintaining close professional ties to some of the most vitriolic, hate-filled voices in our public discourse.
Indeed, Rush Limbaugh, shortly after he publicly mocked a man for having Parkinson’s (LIAR!), was invited to the White House for a private audience with the president.
It’s just plan fear. Plus it’s reached the point where they have gotten so behind the times and so out of touch with the American people that they are becoming marginal crackpots. We’re watching the conservative side of the MSM go to nutjob land and self destruct.
Comment by Glen — 7/22/2007 @ 1:14 pm
It’s too late for them to try ignoring the liberal blogosphere; with major candidates coming to blog events, liberal blogs have broken through and are becoming more and more known. Shifting over to attacking them is all they can do, because, as Dukakis found out, you can’t ignore your enemies.
Comment by jimBOB — 7/22/2007 @ 1:45 pm
Yes, I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it, Billy Kristol is such a good, friendly fascist. It is his ideology to deny open debate, and to try to control the message. It is his ideology that dictates he use incendiary language to paint even the most reasonable opposition to his master narrative as what it is not. It is his ideology to destroy democracy in order to save it. And, it is he who was born with privilege, and cannot now understand the spirit of democracy. As one result, he is continually wrong in his interpretations of the reality based community. He simply does not have the skills-set to accept he has been wrong for so long. -Kevo
Comment by kevo — 7/22/2007 @ 3:23 pm
I thought the only person who could win any argument about anything by invoking the dirty L word was Rush Limbaugh?
Now you tell me some pooh-bah named Kristol has this magic power too?
This is impressively cerebral stuff…
I have a feeling this Kristol fellow is going to make some noise in the world… Comment by ROTFLMLiberalAO — 7/22/2007 @ 3:58 pm
So, who is “The Carpetbagger”?
My name is Steve Benen. I’m a freelance writer, researcher, and political consultant, working in politics in one capacity or another for about 10 years. My articles and op-eds have appeared in a variety of publications, including Washington Monthly, The American Prospect, The Gadflyer, and Church & State. I’ve also been a guest on several radio programs, including NPR’s “Talk of the Nation” and Air America Radio’s “Sam Seder Show.” In addition to The Carpetbagger Report, I’m the lead editor of Salon.com’s Blog Report (formerly the Daou Report), and have been a contributor to Talking Points Memo, Washington Monthly, The American Prospect, the Huffington Post, the Guardian, Crooks & Liars, AlterNet, and Political Wire.