Liberalism on a Ledge

The American Spectator ^ | August 3, 2007 | Shawn Macomber

[Eric Blair 2084]

What did your psychologist tell you?"

Such was the penultimate query of one of the first YearlyKos 2007 panels, "Holding Congress Accountable for a Progressive Agenda." The question was presented to Firedoglake celebrity blogger Jane Hamsher by a middle-aged woman who explained she was trying to convince disillusioned "progressive activists who are ready to give up" to continue to partner with her local Democratic Party chapter.

Despite the Republicans' recent midterm election reversal of fortune, forlorn talk of Democratic victors stabbing "the netroots" in the back has paradoxically replaced the We're going to kick ass from one end of this country to the other! vibe of the 2006 convention. Betrayal? Participants were only all too happy to count the ways: No immediate Iraq pullout, defections on the hate crimes bill, Congressional staffers building walls between representatives and bloggers who grew accustomed to easy access during the campaign.

Hence, Hamsher noted one of her site's bloggers -- "a shrink" -- had intervened in the Firedoglake comments thread to (figuratively, I presume) talk distraught progressives "off the roof," and thus the request that Hamsher share her professional pal's methods. A few minutes later, an audience member asked how panel members propose holding representatives accountable "without looking like all we're doing is being shrill and self-destructive."

"That's our job," Hamsher retorted. "We're supposed to be shrill and self-destructive....We're going to stand on principle and hold that line because if we don't nobody does it."

[Eric Blair 2084]

I'm pretty upset. Not because the ideology of Communism, Socialism, or collectivism inspires fellow free U.S. Citizens whose forefathers (and real fathers) fought and died to contain.

It's a free country. You have a right to be stupid and not learn from Socialisms past failures.

I am upset because "conservative" and "right wing" Presidential candidates don't give FReepers the same dog and pony show.

Duncan Hunter has done a quasi-live thread where he has taken e-mail questions from FReepers.

Where's the love? Why don't the GOP candidates give "FReepers" this kind of access and attention???

Maybe we need to be more shrill and self destructive to get some respect. I know plenty of people here, including myself, who can kick any Kossacks' ass up and down the sidewalk when it comes to being shrill. Just read the illegal immigration threads. We just had no reason to be. We love America.

Any answers?

[Eric Blair 2084]

Memo to me:

I guess nobody here cares why the DNC candidates pay attention to the left wing nutroots and GOP candidates can ignore us.

Never post any such article or question again.

[Helotes]

I think it is a helpful article because it made me realize that General Petraus can always be confident that we haven’t put everything we have into the struggle in Iraq yet. At some point, someone will point that we could improve our performance, as a nation if everyone pulls together and really backs the troops (both them and their mission). When that happens, when at least some of the Dims move toward helping all of us win, then we will give confidence to the Iraqi people, confidence to our troops and confidence to the Iraqi national police, army, and even the politicians. It is now turning into a political struggle and politics is inherently a question of confidence. It can happen.

[Eric Blair 2084]

Thanks. That was indeed an interesting part of the article.

But I’m still curious why the leading left wing candidates flock to the Daily Kos convention and kiss their ass, while the right wing candidates treat FReepers like mushrooms...keep them in the dark and feed them shit.

I can say that here because nobody is reading this thread anyway. Keep it between me, you, the lamp post and the mods.

I’ll post something more provocative next week to get an answer.

[ishabibble]

Pull up some steely resolve and grab a seat, Eric.

It’s Friday night here on the East Coast and it’s been a scorcher of a day, so I’d say that most sane FReepers are out doing the weekend summer things that make this time of year all worth it. We probably pretty much have the place to ourselves, if you think about it.

People do care, and the amnesty push proved that. Just relax for now, and plan to come to D.C. for the GOE/MAM/FR Jamboree! Sept. 17-18 and check out the link at the top of the page for more info. You can be frustrated all you want, but the best cure I’ve found is to do something, take action, be a part of it all. Right now, the FReep at Walter Reed is getting underway and I bet it’s going to be a doozy! We’ll all see the after action report in a few days because those people are dead serious about letting the rest of us know that they don’t sit idly by. Every. Single. Friday.

I’m leaving tonight for my entirely undeserved vacation!
It’s summertime, buddy, go have some fun!

[bill1952]

Pull up some steely resolve and grab a seat, Eric.

Really. I’ve posted a few articles that I felt were of major import but few responded. - Do let THAT get to you.

Its Friday, but hey, I did see your post!

As for this: “We’re supposed to be shrill and self-destructive....We’re going to stand on principle and hold that line because if we don’t nobody does it.”

Uh...yeah! - Battle cry of the terminally stupid!

Perhaps few people do it because they all don’t stay kooks forever?

[bill1952]

Oops!

Do let THAT get to you = Don’t let that get to you

[Nuc1]

Never post any such article or question again.

Ahhh don't sulk now. I think FReepers don't worry about this stuff so much because we are independent and don't require a social network to reinforce the belief structure we each developed. So it follows that generally I don't really care to communicate directly with the pubbies. When I have, on occasion, been able to do so I think they schmooze me. I also don't care all that much for the feigned attention and the pat, rehearsed, answers. I get their attention by calls, contributions and votes. And I really think that with the exception of elites and friends the only thing the pubbies want from me are the contributions and votes. Have you ever been asked by a reigning pubbie for an idea? WEO the child like comments they send out in their contribution requests I never have. Don't get me wrong. I just mean to point out that this type of communication is a feel good exercise for us. Makes us feel important. They will get nothing from it. They don't want too. Now, they really received some communication about immigration didn't they? And they never paid any attention to us yet still we got our message through. McCain is only now understanding the depth of his folly. Don't think his fall was not noticed by the powers that be. So we are communicating with them after a fashion and they appear to be getting the message. I don't need or desire any more. NUC 1

[EQAndyBuzz]

“But I’m still curious why the leading left wing candidates flock to the Daily Kos convention and kiss their ass, while the right wing candidates treat FReepers like mushrooms...keep them in the dark and feed them shit.”

I will try to give you an answer.

Right wing candidates rally at churches, mom and pop shops, ball games, picnics and other events. Guess who go to those events? That’s right. We do.

Frankly, Fred Thompson not showing up here isn’t a big deal. I will see him when he comes to my town. I don’t want a candidate coming here to kiss my butt for a vote.

I want a good candidate with a good message and the heart to implement his ideas should he win office.

[rob777]

“Where’s the love? Why don’t the GOP candidates give “FReepers” this kind of access and attention???”

My guess is that we do not have a George Soros type “sugar daddy” financing a political infrastructure that we can pose as spokesmen for. KOS would be impotent without Soros.

[rob777]

“They will get nothing from it.”

They already have. Do you think that the move to the left by the Democrats has nothing to do with these nuts taking over the base? The real question is just how organized and potent a political force they would be without George Soros as a “sugar daddy”.

[rob777]

“I guess nobody here cares why the DNC candidates pay attention to the left wing nutroots and GOP candidates can ignore us.”

I also think that, by taking out Lieberman in the primaries, they sent a message to the Dem. power structure that they will not be taken advantage of. The right has not sent a similar message to the GOP power structure. For all our moaning about RINO’s, they are convinced that we will suck it up in the end and support whatever the GOP PTB decides on.

In a nutshell, it is a combination of a Soros financed political infrastructure and a willingness to suffer short term political setbacks for the sake of long term consolidation of influence for their agenda.

[Nuc1]

Sorry to not make myself clear. The “they” are the congress critters. “They” get nothing from our opinions that are discussed with them. “They”, the congress critters care only about money and votes.

Just as you point out. My other point is that Dims require a social structure to support their belief system. Pubbies are far more independent. In my experience pubbies neither need nor desire a social structure to support their belief system. Hence they don't need the constant contact with their leaders that the Dims require.

NUC 1

[rob777]

“My other point is that Dims require a social structure to support their belief system.”

That is because liberalism/politics is a substitute religion for a lot of them.

[Tatze]

Liberalism on a Ledge

Someone give 'em a push!

[Eric Blair 2084]

Thanks for your explanations.

[Nuc1]

Yep.