Netroots Rising
Stop me if you've heard this one...
A lesser-known candidate attracts a small following of dedicated supporters by the promise of being different than your usual Washington DC elected officials. Taking advantage of these supporters' talent in getting the word out over the internet, scheduling meetups of other potential supporters, raising funds and generally building up a wave of enthusiasm that carries the candidate to national prominence, that same candidate starts taking on the trappings of traditional politicians-consultants, pollsters, campaign managers from inside the Beltway-and slowly, but heartbreakingly surely, the candidate moves away from those netroots supporters that got him where he was.
Sound like anyone you know?
Well, to Lowell Feld and Nate Wilcox, authors of Netroots Rising: How A Citizen Army Of Bloggers And Online Activists Is Changing American Politics this is altogether too familiar a story. Lowell and Nate are veterans of several netroots campaigns, such as Wesley Clark, Jim Webb, Tim Kaine, and Mark Warner. Netroots Rising documents instance after instance where candidates are profoundly grateful for the support and work of the netroots only to distance himself after surrounded by those desperate not to change the status quo of the power circles.
I am hosting the Book Salon discussing Netroots Rising at Firedoglake starting now 5:00 pm Eastern/2:00 pm Pacific. Come join us and let's discuss the growing power of the netroots and how we can get our voices heard.
frist - Hope is not a strategy.
I think it is wise to try to keep Barack from moving too much to the middle. Every politician needs to move there to get the most votes, but going too far will undermine everything he's been saying. On the other hand, try not to go too far with your criticism of his decisions. We have a great chance here and division in our ranks only helps the Gops.
While we may agree with our positions,.its never good for one ideology to totally take control of a government...ie far left to far right..absolute power is never good...it can even eventually go for bad...we all have ideas which are good for our society...
Stop me if you think you've heard this one before!
Stop us if you dare!!
Keep pummeling Obama on the FISA issue.
Someone said last week (I swear I tried to write down the name) "I may support Obama, but that doesn't mean I submit to him."
Best words I've read on this blog in a bit.
obama campaign to liberal bloggers: piss off, i don't need you
marko @ 4:
thanks
How to get our voices heard.
I a trying to get a morning radio show on the local community radio station focused on blog and netroots driven media.
We need our own channels in MsM.
Samson- @ 6:
was that you? sweet!! keep it up!!
Here Glenn Greenwald writes his latest on FISA.
It is about the rule of law, it is as fundamental an issue as I can think of.
Mess with that and I am off your bus.
marko @ 8:
i believe it was, yes. unless more than one person wrote that submission is not the same thing as supporting a candidate.
i was growing despondent that many of the long time C&L posters were giving obama a free pass, and that unless the left put pressure on him as much as the right or he would continue to move to the right (center? phhpt).
so thank you, and you keep fighting the good fight too marko.
Y'all remember when nets were used to catch salmon
Who'd then gasp and flop about
In the muck in the bottom of the boat?
Samson- @ 10:
Thank YOU sir!!
I post on Obama's site as Michael from St. Louis (oops the real name comes out).
Latest post points at traitorous Senators in
league with Obama. I was really surprised at the lack of trolls on the Obama site. Someone called me a troll on my first post
(because I wasn't just a groveling blinded Obama cheerleader) but many folks came to my support because I prefaced my
criticism with respectful language toward him and his campaign.
Samson- @ 10:
Get a room already, or get a haircut.
Netroots is what's rising?
I call mine Roddy.
I do so hope Jesus doesn't go deer hunt with dick chainey
No miracle would save Him then.
13 Delilah
Get a room already, or get a haircut.
Aren't you supposed to give that to Sampson?
JoeMarasmus @ 2:
Yes, let's admit that our candidate is not perfect and will need our continuous guidance. This is what we do in the Left side of things. We speak up and go out into the streets. Remember the protests against Clinton and his policies?
This is the reality of our country. At least we've got the option of referring back to a netroots premise, whereas with a candidate like Hillary as our nominee there'd be no grassroots even to refer back to; just corporate interests...
Marko and Samson,
Sometimes I wish I could meet certain posters face to face, share a drink and shoot the political breeze. Just once.
Thanks for being here.
told me family yesterday to looks of shocked if he (Obama) votes yea for the fisa changes then i am voting for McBush. a yea vote would tell me he doesn't care about my rights or really the future of this country and if i am going to keep getting screw from d.c. for the next 4 years i would much rather there be (R) beside the name instead of a (D). i also see a trip downtown to the voter reg' office to have a (I) placed beside my name too as i see an end to the past 32 years of voting democrat if they pass this bill. tuesday looks to be a dark day for the nation as far as i can see.
suddenly Nader is look good after all.
Webb,Kaine,and Warner ?
whats in the water in VA?
What should really trouble us is when Democrats, like Obama, Webb, Clark, etc. say, "I have been friends with ............. for many years." How can you be friends with the Republicans who have cheated and lied about everything they do? How can you be friends with McCain, Bush, Cheney, etc. and continue to look the other way whenever they do something illegal? How can you say with a straight face over and over that McCain is a hero and we should kiss his a**? It happens all the time. Everyone in congress is best friends with everyone else. Remember how Bush/Rove/Cheney trashed McCain in 2000? They trashed his reputation, his military record, his family. And now he is Bush's best friend. Is it any wonder things remain same old, same old? I have become extra cynical lately and do not believe things will change. I also don't think Obama gives a rat's a** about us now that he has the nomination wrapped up. Let's see if he can be elected.
Too many people are looking for a Messiah and nothing deflates faster than unrealistic expectations. I, for example, have a large collection of second hand "Hussein" middle names for sale on E-bay. I'm not sure why because Obama is exactly who I expected him to be: a moderate who is trying to build a large consensus with moderate positions. I've never expected to agree one hundred per cent with any candidate's positions and I don't now but I still think he's the best choice in the coming election.
TRUTH RISING.
Netroots: King Makers/King Breakers
Without a doubt, the net is the fastest rising and immediate voice of the people so it's not surprising that everyone is taking to the net as a medium of exchange, communication, and king making. We knew we had a voice when we began seeing Repukes leaving office (some in disgrace and others with enough disgrace that will follow them to their retirement when indictments come down). We knew we had a voice when Obama's disdain for the status quo in politics became music to our ears. We lifted him up high on that wave of hope, that wave of enthusiasm, that wave of belief that we can do better than what we've been doing for the past 8 years.
Now some are waving good-bye but good-bye to what? Good-bye to a facade which was constructed before their very eyes or one which they so willingly constructed by themselves? I believe it's the former, unfortunately - or the candidate with the new ideology coincidentally happened to echo our sentiments, our dreams, and our hopes.
Now we're not so sure, not so certain - as we were in the beginning when many of us first heard him speak and thought "he's not ready yet". Perhaps it's less of a case of him not being ready than a case of him being "too ready" "overripe" and "overblown" - he's beginning to resemble everything that's wrong with our government, what's wrong with our representation, what's wrong with ourselves. His shining patina is tarnishing and it makes many of us very sad because along with that lack of luster goes our hopes and our dreams that we can build a better country, that somehow we're "worth it".
I don't think next weeks' FISA vote is going to help this candidate's rapid netroots descent either. In fact, if Grandpappy McInsane votes "no" by simply stating that there's no prima facie evidence upon which to grant immunity so no vote can logically be made at this point until further investigation occurs, then McGrandpappy's campaign will soar. Now it's the waiting game for many of us.
For Obama, next week's critical vote (which affects ALL of us) may become Howard Dean's non-scream or John Kerry's "if I knew then what I know now" - something which will live on well beyond his political ambitions and aspirations?? Time will tell the tale.
Is that your picture next to the header over at Firedoglake Nicole? If it is I must say mother nature was kind to you; brains and good looks. I hope this comment earns me at least one "get out of moderation" card.
This rise of netroots will be seen as the core of the watershed, a turning point made of one media monstrosity giving way to a new more deft one.
Digby took some hits the other day for admiring the manipulative pageantry of W's kleig light lumpers and media dressers. They do have state of the art minions for TV World frenzy whipping BUT we are witnessing the passing of this neo-feudal pageantry as a potent electoral mobilizer.
TV World = Smooth Bore Muskets.
Netroots= AK-47's.
This may be a core reason for the bald and jittery collusion between TV World and McBush. Both somehow sense their impending doom and are clinging to each other for dear life in some hope that they can hold back the netroots flood with the decrepit levees they have.
And all the high traffic lefty boards are utterly flooded with faux lefty sock puppet trolls in sets of jittery pulse bursts of boobs who honed their comment skills shilling for neocons on Craigslist Rants and Raves. The wooden fake Obama 'betrayal' comments have all the quality of a CL meathead praise piece for our Brilliant management of the Iraq war.
Look to this to be the GOP's one pitiful counter attack in netroots as pulled from the fake robo call playbook. Flood the snot out of comment sections to invoke the myth of an angry groundswell of betrayed lefties. It is so wonderfully transparent and seems to have some sort of predictable periodicity like a room full of monkeys frantically tapping out shitty versions of the scripts every time a new post hits the blog.
It is very entertaining, actually.
P.S. And don't buy the bull$hit that this vote has anything to do with "national security" and the inability to protect us - that's the spin. This vote is strictly about "immunity for Bush and his cadre of telecom criminals - who collectively violated our constitutional rights and the laws of this democracy. These telecons "aided and abetted" the dictator in the white house and need to be punished along with him. There were telecoms who told him to piss up a rope and refused to comply. THESE (Qwest for one) are the telecoms whom we need to elevate and help prosper. The others deserve what they get - they knew very well what they were doing was illegal.
Besides, if the Protect America Act expires, so what?? We still have FISA in place which came into being for the express purpose of NOT permitting the Executive (dictator) from violating the laws of this country ala Richard M. Nixon. The FISA laws and court remains intact despite what the Protect America act does or doesn't do.
This president has shown that he holds himself to be above the laws of this country and ignored FISA totally so why does Congress think in their wildest dreams that this law-breaker will abide for some new law? The evidence is already in on that.
Don't buy the bull that even Obama is spinning about sunsetting the Protect America Act. Let it sunset - it was a diabolical masterplan of Bush and his cronies in Congress in the first place to get his butt off the hook. It was signed under pressure before the August break as a temporary measure to be revisited in full later.
It's all political theatre and bull$hit. Don't buy a morsel of it.
Frankly, I love that the corrupt Republicans are being outed left and right, thanks to the truth of the Net. Prior to the internet, they got away with murder - but no more! We call 'em as we see 'em and out them if they deserve outing. The sheer justice of it all is exhiliarating.
Samson- @ 6:
I am an Obama supporter and am totally disgusted with his FISA views. We need to keep pummeling him and let him know that his spin on voting "yes" on this violation of our constitution is inaccurate. We know the FISA facts. We know that the sunset of the Protect America Act needs to occur because it's a bunch of bogus bull in the first place. This vote next Tuesday has absolutely NOTHING to do with us being protected and Obama needs to know that his netroot supporters are not buying his line. I suspect that if Obama votes "yes" and McPappy votes "no" (even if he claims to support it just due to the fact that legally immunity cannot be granted when no known offenses (details) are known to exist - it's a no brainer - win/win for McPappy). If this occurs, Obama's moment of fame will be short-lived.
Frankly, the fact that Obama is attempting to spin this as a national security issue really disappoints me in this man. In the first place, he underestimates the intelligence of his constituents. We are informed. We are intelligent and we know when we're being fed a line of bull. That's precisely what he's been trying to do. It's not playing well at all and many of us are planning to withdraw our support if he votes Yes on Tuesday. He's in for a very rude awakening and his tsunami will be reduced to a gulf-sized splash.
Once again a politician (Obama) screws us. I mean the repugs can rot in hell but I am going third party for the first time. I am no longer tolerating this BS
Peter G @ 24:
*blush* That is me and I'll pass on your kind words to my parents, since they had more to do with it than I did. ;)
Stop me if you've heard this one: Ron Paul is that guy minus the whole "selling out" part. Get real guys. American people tolerate this horseshit. And we shouldn't. So if you're interested in a candidate who won't sell out, look into Ron Paul but more importantly look into his philosophy of governance.
Peter G @ 21:
I, for example, have a large collection of second hand "Hussein" middle names for sale on E-bay.
okay, this cracked me up. Thanks for that. I noticed the absence of those, too.
The other thing to remember is that we have to, as a netroots community, educate those who are perpetually joining the political scene. Those of us who've been around a while longer, were not THAT surprised that Obama turned into "da-man". We weren't THAT surprised that he flipped on telecom immunity. Or funding.
Or that he's marching lockstep towards the center.
We have to tell those coming behind us, that their naivety was cute, but it's time to grow up now, and start holding the politico's accountable. No matter their party, race, gender, or popular slogan.
If this doesn't convince people that power corrupts, then I don't know what will. A classless, libertarian socialist society, founded on anti-authoritarian principles, is the only humane way to live.
Nicole Belle @ 31:
I'll definitely second that declaration. Is that the look of a librul? HA! Sign me up!
Don't forget the Clintons and their recent distaste for MoveOn.org:
yeah! Don't get cocky!
Attila the Neopopulist, no Stomach for Imperial Adventures @ 37:
pretty similar, aren't they?
We need to set up progressive organizations that we donate money to to be held in escrow for candidates who adhere to progressive positions. It is easy for a politician to ignore 1.000.000 "little people" with no voice and less cohesion but it is a whole lot harder to ignore one HUGE organization in control of the purse strings. I hate to say it but that's why it is so easy to ignore 'we the people' and it is why big business will ALWAYS get its way with our government.
If we are to have a hope with politicians in this country we need to put their nuts in a noose - and give it a good yank once in a while.
Just goes to show the "NET ROOTS" picked the wrong candidate. We the PEOPLE never know which side obama will show up on next.
Yes ... but is anyone really surprised by how the Senator Obama campaign has changed from the primaries to now? It's hardly a new phenomenon - projecting one thing to win the primary and another to win the election.
Having said that - you don't have to like it. I don't like it.
Secondly, you also don't have to swing too far to the centre. I agree that he's probably overdoing it. Hoepfully they'll get a balance that keeps everyone happy.
Shan @ 42:
By happy, I guess I mean grudgingly satisified.
And by 'everyone' - I also guess I mean enough people who vote in the right places to win the election.
That's really the best any politician can hope for or manage if we're being realistic.
And what happens when those pols betray the netroots who made their ascendancy possible?
It has happened time after time after time.
Carolyn Kay
MakeThemAccountable.com
You this is sicken, now that you think you have a little power you want to diss Sen. Obama before he is even in the WH, but you know we can leave your blogg just as well,give the Sen. a chance or maybe you are like everyone else that you talk about.
Obama and Webb are perfect examples. Give Obama a chance? He's already had his chance, several of them. He's blowing it, and he's doing it as a matter of choice. The Constitution and the principles it enshrines and codifies, is a bedrock, first-things-first issue, The prime priority. No matter how important other issues are, they are all a distant second to that. The Constitution is the center, and if you turn away from it, to the right - as in Obama, Webb and others' cases, you aren't becoming a centrist, you're becoming part of the problem. To do so and call whatever the act is a "compromise" is bullshit - a self-serving and cynical rationalization offered to self-justify and further manipulate.
I would say that they are guilty of a betrayal of trust that goes above and beyond what we have come to expect from the average politician, because they went out of their way to represent themselves as being something different, and they cynically played upon the hopes of those whom they used to get where they are today. Screw'em. They will get no more support from me.
john @ 45:
Rhetorically, I am an elitist. I do not think someone whose command of their native language is so evanescent as this--whose intellectual control and the means of expressing their deepest thoughts is so impaired--should bear much weight in such discussions.
Sean @ 32:
I agree. If anyone thought that Obama truely represented change, than he would have been ridiculed and dismissed like the man who did/does. I had hoped and still do hope that all of the people who rally behind Obama see/hear something that I don't. I'll still take Obama over Mcfillintheblankwithsomethingironic any day, but my passion is for RON PAUL (The Philosophies, not the man!).
Che's Lounge @ 17:
in know this thread is not too current, but i checked out yesterday 'fore i saw some of these posts.
just wanted to say thanks, and right back 'atcha
we need a yearly C&L....
If someone is drunk, gets into a Ferrari, and then drives down a mountain road and has an accident, my trying to stop them and failing does not mean I wanted the inevitable accident to happen. On the contrary, it was those who opposed the war who did not want what is happening to happen. All of those who underestimated the task, and overestimated the competence of the administration engaged in the task are those who are fault.
I take little comfort in being right, but it is comforting to know that perhaps my knowledge of the world is more grounded in reality.
It really angers me that politicians think so little of all the hard working people out here in "computerland" who work tirelessly without pay to elect a new democracy.
We get no respect.
Neither should we give any.
You get respect by EARNING IT.
And it begins with RESPECTING OTHERS.
Obama is abandoning us.
We DESPERATELY NEED NATIONALIZED SINGLE PAYER HEALTHCARE.
A sick nation can not thrive.
You forgot the part of the story where the "netroots" candidate finally gets the nomination, then starts to "tack right" for the general election and gets creamed. Or worse, he gets elected, then starts voting with the Blue Dogs or cowering to the Democratic leadership that's too weak and too scared to do anything right.
I want to see some change before I participate in the feelgood circular backslapping that's been going around the netroots. So far, the "change" has been a lot of talk, and every indication from Senator Obama, who is the poster boy for "netroots", is that he's going to be a lot of talk, too. Of course, he might just reverse himself on FISA and earn some respect back, but my guess is that he'd be too scared to look like he's "capitulating to the left", so he'll just go ahead and capitulate to the right.
Pardon me if I sound bitter, but I'm pissed as hell that we got suckered again.
What? Politicians are craven? They say anything to get elected? They use any base they can find that will help them rise up the ranks? They play the good old boy game once they are inside?
I'm shocked. . .
The netroots is doing it backwards.
The way you change Washington is to tear the senior people out from the inside. Not to put Jr. members in.
Comments are closed on this entry