Win Or Lose, “Netroots” gets bashed

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Aug 8th, 2006 | By

by Mark Adams

The mainstream press will lead tomorrow’s conventional wisdom that bloggers must die.  It doesn’t matter if Lieberman wins or loses, online activists will be blamed for the loss or blamed for leading the Democratic Party off the cliff.  We’re evil, period.

An exhausted Chris Bowers sums it up:

Wednesday will be the worst day of press for the progressive netroots in years.  If Lamont loses, we will be branded as ineffectual, irrelevant, extremist, and destructive.  If Ned Lamont wins, we will be branded as powerful, relevant, extremist, and destructive.

Chris correctly states that neither conclusion is accurate or fair.  However, the Righties of Wingnuttostan wish they had a fraction of the “get out of your pajamas and get out there” spirit of Liberal Blogtopia.  You can’t buy dedication.  You can’t sell passion.  You can’t fight ideas with stock options.

The days of wealthy board-room execs deciding the fate of the planet are not over, yet, but you are witnessing the very, very, very beginning of their demise.

4 comments
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  1. Ara Rubyan August 8th, 2006 9:02 am :

    Odds ‘n’ sods:

    1. I’ll be glad when this primary is over.
    2. As Kos and Bowers point out, progressive blogs are only a small part of the progressive netroots, which is only a small part of the progressive movement, which is only part of the Democratic party. Ascribing a lot of power to “bloggers” is probably a bad idea.
    3. Why is the traditional media against the people of Connecticut choosing their Democratic nominee for the Senate? Chill.
    4. Joe’s problem is that he’s chasing a mythical “center of American politics.” Paraphrasing Bill Clinton, he ought to be chasing the center of the Democratic party. He is, after all, a Democrat, right?
  2. shep August 8th, 2006 9:50 am :

    Hope you’re right about the demise of the dominance of the corporate oligarchy, Mark. But I doubt it.

    In the meantime, the netroots will be bashed by the corporate media because they hit them where they live. To the corporate fat cats, it represents populism and that hits them in the wallet (they hate that). To the media fat cats, it hits them in their credibility, which also hits them in the wallet. Expect them both to fight hard against true liberals and progressives for the sake of their lifestyles (they’re pretty f*cking great) as well as their pride.

    The is a battle for the hearts and minds of the other 99% of the population. We have (21st century) stone axes and clubs (some of the internets, The Nation, and Mother Jones), they have nuclear weapons – the entire corporate-controlled media.

  3. Mark Adams August 8th, 2006 10:20 am :

    …but with a little logic, computer savvy, pointed ears, stone knives and bearskins, and a time machine, we can do amazing things. ;-)

    Ara, on number 4. to quote Digby, Joe’s problem is that he’s a bona fide neoconservative running as a democrat. The GOP has been infiltrated by that virus, but the diversity of thought fostered by the Democratic Party builds up our immune system with healthy doses of truth and tolerance that shines a light on the disease — and light kills neo-con bugs, dead. Or at least is scatters the vile things like cockroaches caught in the kitchen when you decide you need a midnight snack.

  4. templestark August 10th, 2006 2:23 pm :

    Post, er post – Did they get bashed?

    Predictions of negativity are easiest to flame and easiest to forget.

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