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(Hi there, Firedogs, it's Thesaurus Rex. Jane has been called back to Oregon for a family emergency so I will be filling in as your Late Nite host this evening. Everyone please remember Kobe in your prayers tonight.)
Every so often, in the face of the administration's stonewalling in the NSA leak probe and Abu Gonzales's cavalier attitude toward the Rule of Law (except as it applies to political enemies), I feel overwhelmed and hopeless, and despair of ever seeing justice served in the myriad of egregious abuses of power perpetrated by BushCo and its cronies. But then I see something like this at Think Progress where the good folks at Tom DeLay's Legal Defense Fund are saluting Stephen Colbert for his hard-hitting interview with "Outfoxed" director Robert Greenwald on the subject of Greenwald's new film "The Big Buy: Tom DeLay's Stolen Congress". They've even posted the full video at the Defend Delay Web-Site. According to them, Greenwald "crashed and burned" under the withering glare of Colbert's laser wit.
Now, why would a bunch of crony-sucking Repug thugs suddenly rush forward to embrace a known liberal satirist? BECAUSE THEY DON'T REALIZE HE'S A LIBERAL!
I'll let you kids sit back and soak that in for a second.
Yup, apparently one layer of irony is one too many for the brain-donors at Defend Delay. They don't get that when Colbert asks a question like, "Who hates America more, you or Michael Moore?" that his tongue is firmly planted in his cheek.
And this, my friends, is why we shall overcome.
Because right wingers are stupid.
They make a lot of noise about the Liberal Elite, how we're a bunch of latte-sipping, college-degree-holding, eggheaded bleeding hearts. It's why they declare war on the educational system, whether it's through Regnery books about the dangers of liberal college professors, paying money for students to surveil their teachers and report the ones who aren't toeing the right-wing party line (WHO, exactly, are a bunch of Nazi block-watchers, Ann Coulter? Hm?), or instituting bogus reform programs like No Child Left Alive or whatever it's called. They don't like smart people. We're harder to manipulate. We ask difficult questions like, "Isn't covert surveillance of American citizens against the Fourth Amendment?" or "Why did we invade Iraq in the first place?"
By sowing mistrust of intellectuals and dismissing us, they are trying to level the playing field the only way they know how. They can't get any smarter, so they try to make the world dumber. A country full of Paris Hiltons will never stop to ask if the Diebold machine counting their votes is accurate and tamper-proof. Paris Hiltons don't vote at all. It's how Tom DeLay and Bill Frist and Karl Rove want things. Nobody votes if they don't care, which leaves the Wingnut Brigade free to loot the treasury, spy on political enemies, and fix elections. Ignorance and apathy are the coin of their realm.
The good news is that it isn't going to work. Through grass-roots action, incisive writing, documentary filmmaking, guerilla publishing, blogging, letter-writing, and all the other ways that we of the New and Angry Left are making our voices heard, we will beat them. We may not have big bucks to throw around like the lobbyists they're used to. We may not have their choke-hold on the major media outlets. We may not have their motorcades, consultants, and expensive Ivy-League connections (okay, well, not most of us), but we have our passion, our intelligence, and our love of our country. And that is how we will trump arrogance and sanctimony. It isn't going to be easy. It will take some time. We must stick together. We will face setbacks and hardships along the way. But the fact of the matter is that WE are the real Americans. WE are the people who are carrying out the ideals that this great nation was founded on. And WE shall overcome. WE, the People.
WE THE PEOPLE!!
Say it with me! WE THE PEOPLE!!
God bless you all, patriots. Gird your loins for battle. We have a long, hard road ahead. But victory will be ours. This country belongs to us.
We. The People.
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FROOTZ ! ! !
FITZ! Colbert!
I make occasional forays Freeperville and it’s true-many of them LIKE Colbert and it’s painfully obvious that the satire goes right over their heads. They think he’s one of theirs.
Oh, and “Fitz!!!”
Fitz Fitz FITZ!
delaygrupen did it for three reasons; 1. they did it now because they knew Colbert was going on vacation for two weeks
2. that their constituents would not remember it past 2 weeks when he comes back on air.
3. and because no one that votes for tom knows he is even a tv star, much less understand comedy central.
I kept looking for the spoof proof but I didn’t find it. Is it for real? No one could be that stupid. Could they?
TRex, I look forward to your posts so much. Love your style and the way you see things.
LeisureGuy!
Phuckin Phitz! Leisure Guy! Kittz! We the Farkin People, Motherfuckers!
TRex, I look forward to your posts so much. Love your style and the way you see things.
Aw. Thanks, Mommybrain! Just trying to help out around here. I have set a timer here at work to beep every 30 minutes and remind me to send a prayer to Jane and Kobe. I sure hope the li’l fella is going to be alright. Jane’s plumb foolish about that dog and I don’t blame her. Let’s all hope that he comes out of surgery okay.
The only Diebold machine Paris Hilton is familiar with is the ATM, and I’m sure she’s mastered that survival skill.
opp99
how was dinner? Were you nice?Tell us a story!
Rex in da HOUSE!
Goddamn, there’s quite the new filing from Fitzgerald, all about Cheney and Libby, complete with about 15 pages of Libby’s actual grand jury testimony attached. It’s really quite unbelievable.
I read earlier that something was wrong with Kobe. What happened to him? I have a smaller version of Kobe and it hurts my heart.
Plameaholic alert - there is a new fitz court filing in existence. I don’t have access to PACER, but if someone does, maybe they could transcribe a bit or otherwise disseminate the info. Word on emptywheel’s site that it is pretty content-rich. Thanks!
I kept looking for the spoof proof but I didn’t find it. Is it for real? No one could be that stupid. Could they?
*They* might not be totally stupid, but they probably think their readers are either stupid or ignorant and will buy into their snake oil propaganda. (At least long enough to deposit the donations, which is what they’re really after.)
more info Jeff!
Jeff, can you type fast and share a few choice tidbits for us? Any info would be greatly appreciated!
briefly de-lurking to wish the best to Kobe; hang in there, big fella….
Many years ago, I thought George Carlin nailed
the problem with this country - “Too many stupid
people.” It’s getting more and more true.
Anyone know that URL for the official prosecution website? I know it has been posted here dozens of times, but I’m on a different PC and it don’t have my bookmarks :-)
We. The People.
Yeah, we are going to Drive the Republicans into the Sea.
If this filing is a juicy as Jeff claims, I wouldn’t rule out the possibility that we might hear from Christy again tonight!
Is that rumble in the distance the sound of a bus heading for drowsy Cheney?
Um. . . I confess I have Ivy League connections.
What was I s’posed to do with my loins, again?
Jane, my thoughts are with you and Kobe tonight.
TRex, it makes absolute sense that wingnut apologists think Colbert is an actual conservative; look at how easily they bought Bush’s obvious-except-to-the-oblivious line of bullshit about…uh, everything?
Ooh, a Lamont commercial right now during Colbert. Huh.
“Now, why would a bunch of crony-sucking Repug thugs suddenly rush forward to embrace a known liberal satirist? BECAUSE THEY DON’T REALIZE HE’S A LIBERAL! “
Interesting. I don’t watch Colbert all the time, but when I first tuned in to him I instantly saw that he was/is a parody of typical “real conservative guys”. (I’ve read that he imitates O’Reilly…I’m not sure. I always thought that Colbert is just poking fun at ALL right wing types)
And so, I would wonder why this parade of conservatives would even come on his show! I figured maybe part of it is to try and sell a book. But who in a typical Colbert audience would buy such a book??
And now you write and confirm this growing suspicion of mine…one which I simply refused to believe. They really must not get it??!!
Ghostman
Hella visual - really about you T? Dang, superstar sheeit even if not!
TRex -
your post touches on something that both frustrates the crap out of me and gives me on going hope -
how in the hell did such a collection of barely concious dumb clucks get over on us ?!?!? Think about that Mensa candidate Oil Company shill they sent after Gore yesterday or that hunka hunka burnin’ intellectual love who sheperded the SD Abortion Ban (ho-ho boy who works at the family Quik Sak) and of course there’s the Chimpinator (my repub neighbors were embarassed by his Interview w/David Gregory last week)
it took me a while to figure out it has very little to do with the players and everything to do with the script and direction
and thanks TRex for reminding those who needed rerminding - We Shall Overcome . I urge anyone still down by doubt to take a look at Christy’s post this morning showing the CTG/Roots .
It’s hard to imagine DeLay and his slithering snake lawyers wouldn’t understand Colbert is mocking their existence. But then again, DeLay is a dimwitted, single-minded villain. I’m sure with his vanity he only surrounds himself with people who make him look good, so they’ve got to be worse.
The other reasonable explanation is that DeLay and his snakes know Colbert is a parody but they don’t think their supporters will know the difference. It’s quite possible that DeLay has the same contempt for everyone who gives him money that he’s shown everyone, and has no problem fleecing them with bullshit.
Trex,
You da bomb.
And WE shall overcome. God, how I still love that phrase. It plucks the righteous heartstrings, it does.
Not all wingnuts are that stupid though. Some are quite bright but harbour corrupt morals. Those are the ones I want to mash like grapes.
For the stupid ones, I ask the universe (parallel and otherwise) for their enlightenment and then I make fun of them in a most shameful manner (not really).
Thanks Rex. Prayerful wishes for healing blessings to all two and four legged friends.
TRex –
You are SO correct! I agree 100% with what you said. It has driven me NUTS the past 6 years, seeing truly intelligent people cower in the background. WHY? Beats me.
But now, it seems they are getting strong again.
Is it too late? I don’t know, but I hope not.
What was I s’posed to do with my loins, again?
Uh, Pach, I’m pleading the fifth on that one.
Teresa, from what I understand, Kobe has suffered a twist in his digestive tract. They say a dog’s stomach “turns over”. It’s very painful and sometimes fatal, so really, pray hard. He must be so sad and scared without his mommy there. But she’s winging her way westward even as we speak. Go, Jane!
Jeff,
I hope you don’t mind, but I ran over to emptywheel’s site and pulled your quote from the Fitz filing to share with FDL. Thanks!
From Fitzgerald, p. 6 fn 5 (transcribing):
To be clear, the government’s argument is not (as the defendant claims) that it is more likely that the Vice President discussed these issues with defendant merely because he wrote them down but, rather that, in light of the Vice President’s annotation of the Wilson Op Ed with the words, “Did Wilson’s wife send him on a junket?,” it is unlikely that, as defendant testified, the issue was not discussed in defendant’s repeated conversations with the Vice President during the week following the Wilson Op Ed’s publication.
Hella visual - really about you T? Dang, superstar sheeit even if not!
Hey, Sharky! It’s real, but he wasn’t talking about me. It just popped up there on the screen.
Personally, I think he lurks here. Or posts under a screen name. How would we know?
Actually, I think Stephen C. posts here as punaise.
punaise 19 - never hear you “straight” like that - gives pause - makes me want to hug you ((())))
(however please get your ass back to the forte we need you for)
Good night, all. Off to read wizard stories and put the young onion to bed.
Ghostman - I know, almost too good to be true.
cbl - #28 - except for that impeachment thing, things were rollin’ along pretty well. I think we fell asleep and they snuck up on us.
Here’s a nice tidbit. From Fitzgerald, p. 6 fn 5 (transcribing):
To be clear, the government’s argument is not (as the defendant claims) that it is more likely that the Vice President discussed these issues with defendant merely because he wrote them down but, rather that, in light of the Vice President’s annotation of the Wilson Op Ed with the words, “Did Wilson’s wife send him on a junket?,” it is unlikely that, as defendant testified, the issue was not discussed in defendant’s repeated conversations with the Vice President during the week following the Wilson Op Ed’s publication.
The funniest part is where Libby, in the grand jury, explains that Cheney discussed the substance of each one of Cheney’s annotations on Wilson’s article with Libby shortly after that article appeared except for the note about whether Wilson’s wife sent him on a junket. To be clear, Libby says that Cheney did discuss that issue with him after Wilson’s article appears, but, Libby says, it was only after Libby relearned, as though for the first time, about Plame from Russert. Maybe it happened late on July 11 or on Air Force Two on July 12. Or maybe it happened, oh, some time in September.
There can be almost no question Fitzgerald thought Libby was lying his ass off to protect Cheney, and probably even to hide the fact that Cheney was directing Libby to leak Plame’s CIA affiliation.
That said, it seems to me that there’s no way Fitzgerald would let all this information about Cheney come out publicly if he had any real hope of going after Cheney.
Also, Fitzgerald denies that he has made representations to Team Libby that Cheney would not be a witness at trial. He’s not saying he will be, and he’s not saying he won’t.
Trex with the Late Nite Rx!
Not that I don’t appreciate your POV - I do - but do not underestimate what we are up against. There are intelligent and thoughtful people in the Republican camp, not all of them malicious and self-centered. Those are people we need to work on with the “flies with honey” approach. Some cheerleading is OK, but a steady diet of “We Rock, Y’all Suck” convinces nobody, changes nothing. So put those big liberal brains to work, tell the not-so-bright WE THE PEOPLES why we belive what we do, what is wrong, how we can change it for the better. We must provide the alternative, the antidote to Fear and Hatred. E Pluribus Unum!
Thank you, TRex.
Just
Thank you.
T Rex,
If they’re so stupid, why are they in charge? Of everything…..
Your post is OK and your optimism commendable. David Niewert’s preceding post made me want to cry.
Hilde - you say every damn thing I think of to say! What a damn brilliant thing you are! :)
This is what I wrote over at Kos about this:
If I was an ordinary Joe who voted Republican, I think I would see that Colbert interview as very supportive of Delay.
Frankly, I don’t think it is a very good interview for our side, if you want to convince people who aren’t already in on the joke.
Greenwald laughs at Colbert as if he is watching a performance, instead of doing his part as part of the performance. It’s a fake interview with a fake interviewer. By treating Colbert as a friendly voice, he is not actually going along with the joke, but against it.
I think that is a flawed approach. It would be more effective IMO, if the interviewees would treat Colbert as the the character he plays. Deride his idiocy, scoff at his claims and make “him” look small. Say all the things they can’t say if they were to actually do an interview on Fox. Colbert would let them.
Colbert himself constantly derides his own character (by that I mean the role he plays). These book and movie shillers should get with the program. Then they might really affect the conservative audience who drink their Colbert straight.
And
For the liberal folks who go on to talk about issues like Delay’s indictment, they aren’t part of the audience, they are part of the show.
I just think it would be more effective if they treated Colbert like the conservative dittohead he portrays and nail his idiocy. It might make some of the open to conversion types start to question the real conservative talking heads also.
When Feingold was on, he was good at this. He didn’t try to be a funny man and he didn’t get lost in giggling at Colbert’s inanities. He did get his message across.
They don’t all have to behave the same way, some need to be dignified, others can rant, but I don’t think it helps the cause of conversion if they also act as if Colbert isn’t serious. Then they aren’t playing their part.
If Colbert’s show is just supposed to be entertainment, then my point is moot.
And let’s not forget how Delay exploited the personal friendship of an aide in an attempt to smear John Kerry as having an affair with an “intern” (scroll to the bottom for the dish), a rumor that turned out to be patently false.
DUMB DUMB DUMB
T Rex, thanks for the insight. It’s the only explanation that makes sense. Too stupid to get the joke. Damn.
Jane and Kobe, there’s a candle lit at our house
The official Fitz home page is http://www.usdoj.gov/usao/iln/osc/index.html, and if you click on “In Re: Special Counsel Investigation” at the bottom, it takes you to the filings.
Note: This is not to be confused with the official Fitz site found here: http://www.fitzsrootbeer.com/
(Does PJF have relatives in St. Louis?)
If the wingers are smart, it’s only in a cunning, reptilian kind of way. Rove smart. Smart like ants and roaches.
Okay, gotta head out to the grocery store and then home. I’ll check back in.
Thanks so much for not throwing rotten tomatoes and all. You guys rock.
Dangit… How did that happen…? Somebody with moderator skills, I think I left a tag open up there after the word “intern” and something I typed had me double post at the same time! Grr!
cbl 28,
“it took me a while to figure out it has very little to do with the players and everything to do with the script and direction”
Bingo. Politics is now developed and sold like a product. Or products. It’s researched, focus grouped, targeted, positioned and messaged and just like Brand New Tide.
The marketers of this world know fully well that a good marketing campaign can sell trainloads of crap. As in real feces. And can overwhelm less expensive, higher quality competing products (not crap).
We are - no wait, the “American public in general” has grown not complacent but compliant. Marketing is now SOP with every fucking thing in the whole wide world: religion, politics, education, cars, homes, pizza, boner pills, music, etc. It’s a proven method for success.
I consider Bush the Milli Vanilli of modern day political office holders. When people refer to his decision-making, his beliefs, his policies, I’m reminded of Milli and Vanilli’s exceptional vocal skills and musical ability. And then a hurl a little bit in my mouth.
As the sages said of old, LJ/Aquaria, “all things in moderation.”
A comment that would have been better on the previous thread, but I know people here in NOLA who use the word “democrat” in place of the “N” word they can no longer use so openly. But it’s a sort of “generic” racism - not directed at specific individuals, but at “them”, the not-like-us - and I have seen these same people associate freely with people of color. Quite frankly, I don’t know what to make of it.
Peterr,
Doesn’t look like the new filing is up yet on the website you referenced, FYI. But I imagine it will be up tomorrow. Thanks.
Trex, thank you for answering my question about Kobe. I know from personal experience how serious that is . I’m pulling for you Kobe and Jane.
Colbert is awesome, watch/listen faithfully.
I hope Kobe is fine;
Trex, you rock.
Back to previous topics: I’ll try to keep this brief. It’s not my gift, but what the hell.
We see the Dems in DC caving on everything and we get pissed off. Why can’t they grow a spine and just shut the place down? Why can’t they vote no on every single GOP proposal and go on record as a strong opposition party?
I think this is strategy. Everything this administration and Congress has touched as turned to shit. Everything. Why the heck should the Democratic Congresspeople and Senators keep them from taking more stupid, idiotic, ineffective actions? The chickens are indeed coming home to roost: every poll for this entire year has showed a continuing decline in administration and GOP congressional trust, rated effectiveness, and approval. They’re sinking and stinking. I think it could be that the democratic congressional leadership, such as it is, is watching this behavior and the resultant Republican crash, and is not willing to get in the way. Every indicator except our own battered-wife lack of confidence shows that the Democratic party has a very real chance at winning at least one house in November, and I for one cannot imagine a single GOP strategy to convince mainstream America that Republicans can suddenly be trusted and are worthy of a vote.
I’m not saying that this strategy is the ‘right’ one to follow. I think it’s the only one that the leadership can agree on. If they shut things down there is danger of being painted as the obstructionist party, the group causing the problems. There’s danger of taking the attention off the inept, illegal, idiotic antics of the Party In Power. (And I think the few strong voices on the left are scouts taking positions that are ‘radical’ so the press and public are exposed to fresh ideas—once the Democratic Party is in power, those ideas won’t seem as radical as they’ve been seen and argued before.)
When DiFi is clearly frustrated at the hearing, tells folks that she isn’t happy with the nominee, and then votes to clear him through to the full Senate, it could be that she’s been convinced to do so. The strategy may be to let the GOP hang themselves further on their own stupid inept decisions (what could be better than pointing to the fact that the guy who was in charge of domestic spying on EVERYONE (and lied about it to Congress) got a promotion to run the CIA? Heckava job, Magoo!) Also, as someone around here pointed out, it’s good politics in that the Rummy ain’t gonna’ like this choice. Sow seeds of discontent in the enemy camp, right?
Lastly, about the relative progressiveness (is that a word?) of democrats like DiFi: so what? She’s on our side. She’s more centrist than most of us would like, but she’s clearly a strong Democrat. On our side we range from radical leftist to middle-of-the-road centrist, just as the GOP ranges from radical Christian wingers to centrists gritting their teeth and supporting the Party. We all have a clear role to play. Solidarity within the Democratic Party is the essential cooperative effort that wins elections and saves the republic. Sometimes you have to hold your nose, smile, and thank them for coming to the aid of the Party. And, if I may add, Feinstein is just now beginning to be hit with the strength and coordination of the progressive NetRoots. She’ll learn, and right quick, to pay attention to our side, our strength, and our learned opinions. Boxer may help in this learning…Maybe a shock to the system of a strong showing in the primary would be good, I don’t know, to underline this needed shift. But we need to keep the Democratic seat in California’s corner of the Senate.
Thanks for reading; hope I didn’t step on too many toes. I’m off to read Alanna to the seven-year-old and sing her to sleep.
Keepin’ a Kobe virtual-candle burnin’ this rainy night in Fargo with two sleepy eyed cocker spaniels staying vigil. Jane, take care, we’re with you.
There’s a rather depressing pattern to many arguments I have with wingnuts and other conservatives. It usually goes like this: they bring up various silly points they’ve learned by listening to the Rush/Hannity crowd; I spend unbelievable amounts of time convincing them that each point is wrong; at the end they say something like “Well, it looks like you got it all figured out” with a sarcastic overtone that would be easy to spot even if I were as dumb as they think the average liberal is. At the end of this process I just want to scream at them “Why didn’t you figure this out! What makes you think that just because something someone says conforms to your preconceived notions about the world, that they are actually true?”.
Of course, we all tend to accept the information that fits our world view, but there are just times when I wonder what deviant mental track these folks got on that gets them where they are today. So much of what they think they know is just nonsense that you just have to wonder if they spent their youths in some secret North Korean brainwashing camp.
Good essay, TRex, and you’re right, it’s a long road ahead.
Quite correct in that “nobody ever went broke by underestimating the intelligence of the American public.”
But don’t go poppin’ no Champagne.
Just because they’re dumb don’t mean they’re gonna lose automatically.
Anybody remember the Brownshirts?
That nasty little chaper of history wasn’t exactly Exhibit A for the triumph of reason in educated Western cultures…
marksb,
This is not strategy, this is surrender. This is why people have no idea what Democrats stand for: there is nothing they will fight for, even if they know they will lose. We need officeholders who will fight for what is right BECASUE it is right, not because they are sure they will win. Yes, pick your battles, but for cryin’ out loud, FIGHT some battles, Please!
Hilde, Marketing is indeed the scourge of our times. AND it is the way to sell shit to massive target markets—that’s just the way it is. I’ve been preaching to the choir around here and at Kos that we must learn to effectively market or we will sit second in line forever. I think somehow this ties in with the question earlier today about how to be ready to respond to attack campaigns, to swiftboating.
I think they just read the transcript of the show - without having actually seen it.
Sending prayers and warm, healing thoughts for Jane and Kobe and thanks to TRex for stepping up on such short notice.
Unfortunately, it’s not just the conservatives who are too dumb to get that Colbert is doing satire. In preparation for his appearance, Greenwald posted on his site asking for advice, and there were plenty of supporters giving helpful advice that pretty clearly showed they didn’t get that Stephen is doing a character.
Jeff
I went to the next hurrah and did not see the filings or any excerpts thereof. you got a link? Or sumpin?
Talkleft has posted about Fitz’s new filing:
http://talkleft.com/new_archives/014938.html
AirportCat, good point. I’m trying to think about this: their in/actions MUST have a reason. I mean, can they really be that spineless? And I can imagine a reality where this strategy makes sense. If the GOP is so good at knifing themselves, do they need my blade? Night all.
Edward T 40 - yes the nazis seemingly do win and win. Nazi shit is so easy. Real reality coolness is harder and takes awhile it seems. But come on say it, we the people will bury that fucking chimp and half dead DUI dick and the fascist corp horses they rode in on. How can we not? Me just an old hippie, good morning starshine, the earth says hello. Assholes never prevails.
Sharkbabe,
Humble thanks but I my candle glows dimly in the midst of your sharp wit :-)
I’m feeling a rant coming on regarding the marketing of politics as a PRODUCT. A product that’s consumed or used for a purpose, be it useful or whimsical. It’s been rumbling through the bowels of my deeper chakras now for a while, this awful realization that politics is now marketed by external sources like something that we use or consume. But it’s late here so I’m tucking away for the night.
Been lovely to join in the fun for once. Thanks ya’ll for including me. Keep up the good fight!
Just learned that Fargo lost a 21-year-old National Guardsman in Iraq. I can’t imagine the pain and sorrow his parents and sister are feeling this night, but it makes me mindful of the true meaning of the upcoming weekend.
And that this is not some shilly-shell political pawn gamesmanship. It is people’s lives.
May there be a special place in the afterlife for these inhuman monsters who rationalize their WHIG and campaigning conduct with the tawdry tossaway that our citizens’ lives are “fair game.”
For Michael and his family, profiles in courage.
E Pluribus Unum. We, the people…all of us deserve better.
er prevail.
Reporting in from my local county Democratic Party shindig tonight at which James Carville was the speaker (Monroe County, NY). My observations:
1. Carville told a bunch of jokes and then did some motivational rah-rah stuff why republicans are bad. Considering the audience was 100% Dem officials and activists, it was akin to talking to college students as if they were 3rd graders.
2. The local Party people were real pleased with turnout and enthusiasm levels. Hopefully that is a harbinger of a fired up base.
3. My table was 1/2 Drinking Liberally Netroots types, and 1/2 long time party activist types. When Carville gushed praise on Hillary and Schumer, we netrooters sat on our hands and maybe emitted some raspberries, while the “establishment Dems” cheered wildly. They looked at us like we were infiltrators from a mental institution. After the speech we explained why progressives are pissed off at the Dem power brokers triangulating Democratic principles into oblivion. They nodded politely, but it didn’t really seem to make much of an impression.
4. The establishment dems who stopped by Drinking Liberally afterward were well informed on national politics, but it seemed to me they were overwhelmingly focused on winning local races. It strikes me that this practical focus dilutes their ideology; they are accustomed to struggling in pursuit of the possible, and have perhaps lost sight of their vision in the process. They would settle for a Lieberman as long as it was a win.
5. I hope that this does not come across as criticism - my hat is off to these folks for keeping our party in the game when all I ever did up until now was cast my one vote.
6. In short, the party ain’t moving until the netroots infiltrate the local party apparatuses. I haven’t read Crashing the Gate yet, is that what it says?
#64 TalkLeft link includes a link to Fitz’s 10-page filing:
http://talkleft.com/new_archives/014938.html
A big get-well to Kobe! I’m sorry to hear he’s having such trouble, and hope he gets well soon.
Hilde,
Nice we are finally on at the same time.
To go back to an earlier discussion. What think you about the “innocullation” idea? When we believe a sliming is coming we announce that it is coming and so make it farcicle?
Alternatively, how can we set up a rapid repsonse? Can we get people to volunteer to contact specfic media outlets on the day we learn that the smear has begun?
I think it’s safe to assume that we will be amoung the first to know. News travels faster over the water of the Lake than over most other places. can we divvy up the dead tree media? Have people waiting to write the op ed, the letter to the editor, the drive by email to the ombudsman?
Wouldn’t that be something. A net roots counterpunch to the Mighty Wurlitzer?
Of course the MW is paid for with big bucks and favors. e would do this for love. Love of country, love of truth, love of an honest man just trying to
do his job the best he can.
Jeez, I sound like a FrankCappra movie!
But I really do mean it.
oh no, not kobe! i’ve broke muffins with the big lug! good luck jane and kobe, my prayers are with you!
Great Post Trex. I’m a children’s librarian and just today I put a great big poster of the Constitution on my door, so your post tonight really struck a chord with me.
Does this mean we get to start all threads now with Fitz! Roots! and We the People!
Seriously, if anybody hasn’t gone to itunes and paid $.99 to download Lullaby by the Dixie Chicks and be listening to it over and over all evening, well I don’t know what, y’all missing the most serious wondrous simple beauty shit.
“We the people”
‘Republicans picked my son to be the President…You nasty liberals can just go dig up one better, if you can’
;>)
Prayers for Kobe from our family.
My prayers are that they’ve gotten the pain under control now; that Jane’s there–that will be a huge comfort to Kobe; and that they have successfully done the surgery.
marksb,
I’m afraid the only reason behind the actions of many of our “representatives” is to get themselves re-elected. Personally, I nether need nor do I want (well, maybe) a representative who agrees with me on every issue. I want someone who shares my views on the big, important issues, but who has strong beliefs and is not afraid to stand up and fight for those things. For example, corporations are not citizens and should not be granted the same political rights as citizens (really big corporations tend to be far wealthier and longer-lived than us mere Humans). ALL of us should have access to affordable, good-quality health care. We should never have gone to war against a country that did not attack us first (unless you count the attack on USS Stark in 1987). Workers should expect that their health will be adequately protected in the workplace. Add your own. What is our message? Who will step forward and lead? (Yeah, that Feingold guy … he’s a good one, truly!)
www.talkleft.com
TRex:
I think you are correct, though I believe you and I have a fundamentally different views about just exactly who “we” are.
“We” are not the friends of the current Democratic leadership, a leadership that has failed the American people utterly and completely for so long now that any claim to credibility is lost.
I no longer consider myself a Democrat — though I have voted mostly Democratic for over 30 years. I will no longer support Democrats simply in the name of party unity. The Democrats are culpable to a great degree, along with Republicans in the willful destruction of this country’s constitution. And that is a crime for which they cannot be forgiven. For the time being, I’m quite comfortable with choosing no party affiliation. If the Democrats want my vote, they’ll have to earn it.
Oh, I’ll continue to contribute and vote for certain specific Democratic candidates where our positions coincide. And I’m certainly capable of being pragmatic. And I’ll help in projects where I believe there’s even symbolic hope. But I will no longer contribute anything to the state or national Democratic coffers. I’ll determine just exactly who my money goes to, thank you! And I’m taking as many of my friends and acquaintances with me as possible.
In my opinion, much of the current Democratic leadership is pathetic and morally bankrupt. From the vote to authorize Bush to use force in Iraq, to the Patriot Act, to the Alito nomination to the NSA wiretapping to the Hayden nomination, the Democratic leadership has bent over backwards to help Bush dismantled our constitution.
The latest example of their unmitigated hypocrisy came today when Pelosi joined in the call to have documents seized from Jefferson’s congressional office returned. For years now we’ve watched while Bush consolidated power for himself - up to and including the outright violation of laws — all the while the Democrats did NOTHING to challenge this power grab. Now, all of a sudden, when it affects their little fiefdoms, they’ve got religion, they understand! and they’re passionately worried about excesses of power in the executive branch. How flippin’ convenient. I’m touched. Really. One little search warrant accomplished what years of cards, letters and faxes from constituents could not communicate.
So yes, I do think you’re right, TRex. WE will win… in the end. But “WE” are not the Democratic party — at least not in its current form. And “in the end” is likely to be a fair ways off.
Irishmom 74 - I’m library of congress, surfed our kid lit stacks/spines long and long for publishing project stuff - always think about the Real People like you doing the real stuff. Nice to meet you. Libraries and library people are It. Haven’t hesitated to stand up to Bushco bullshit ever.
T Rex
Thanks for taking the graveyard shift.
Irishmom,
I actually did start a thread with “Fitz! Roots! We, The People!” the other day, so yeah, it has my vote, and I really like “E Pluribus Unum” too … I still haven’t gotten over it that we allowed that wonderful motto to be kicked to the curb in favor of “In God We Trust”. (Note to Mr. Bush: I don’t think I want to put any trust in YOUR God, sorry!)
looseheadprop,
I was off to bed but snuck back in for one more peep in case there was Plame news and here you are!
Funny, I first read your opening as “Nice we are finally on the same team”. Strange, I thought, what other team have I been on? It’s getting late is my excuse.
If you’re suggesting that a good defense is a good offense, then I agree. Getting in front of the wave is crucial and I think the netroots is the absolute best at that. It’s one of the reasons I read blogs now, almost exclusively, as my news resource.
Folks like Jane and Christy have developed a fine nose for the oncoming slime. It’s the additive power of the web of these folks that makes it so effective in picking up the scent.
But as you ask: What’s the best, most effective tactical response? Your suggestions are a start. But are letter to the editor, etc. swift enough to out-swiftboat the swiftboaters? If detection is early enough, then probably. But penetration (don’t get excited) and reach also come into play. You’ve got to reach enough outlets to achieve critical mass to make a dint. Right now, on this late eve, I don’t know what that mass is. Other wiser heads may have more insight.
I was thinking earlier today that for speed, nothing beats online. Email and text messaging, for starters. But I may be thinking like a professional marketing here and not a grassroots participant. I do think that whatever distribution methods can be organized, another key element is content. We must be able to backup our claims and condemnations - we don’t have the $$$ for a bigger, louder bullhorn. But gathering those resources is time-consuming, though Jane and Christy and other bloggers amaze me sometimes at that speed that they can react with real meaty content.
OK. I’m starting to ramble. Sorry, it is past my bedtime. I’ll take these thoughts to slumber over. Will pipe in later tomorrow after this old brain reboots.
Cheers and peace to all mankind…
Dammit, will somebody please close the link?
The latest Fitz filing is at www.talkleft.com
Frank’s summary:
1. Libby repeatedly says Cheney told him to get “all” of the information out there. Fitz allows you to draw your own conclusions as to what this means.
2. This filing is a bit snarkier than usual. I think Fitz has had it with Team Libby’s antics. My guess is that the judge is on the same page, although with a little less snark. Still, it wouldn’t surprise me if the judge issued a “Ruling on Defendant’s Latest Eight-Part Discovery Motion: No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no.”
darkblack you are such disturbing nightmare perfection!
Ed N Sted, Well Said! (@82)
Irishmom #75: That reminds me, the Mini Page has done great pages on the Constitution in the past year, with specific ones focusing on various parts of the Bill of Rights. It seems to me they’ve been wonderfully subversive and topical without specifically mentioning current events, but maybe they’re completely straight and it’s just the times we live in that makes them seem subversive.
Thank the Gods, the link is closed and I can post.
Jane and Kobe, you are in my thoughts and prayers tonight. Asking for the best result possible for both of you and your family.
Night hilde, you smart cool, see ya on the flip and beyond as we destroy this fuckhood of evil!
Oh, and since I couldn’t access comments earlier in the day (my work connection was going to the old FDL servers), let me mention it now –
In the CtG project video at the very end, the tall guy in the suit is me!
It looks like Fitz is continuing to play a mighty fine poker hand with the “will he, won’t he, call Cheney” question. Every time Team Irving asks if jokers are wild, Fitz reminds them the game is seven card stud and turns over another ace.
My hope tonight is that Jane and Kobe will be playing on that beautiful piece of the Oregon coast very soon.
Hilde #49 and marksb #60:
I’ve been in marketing, mostly the research end, for a third of a century. I could go on and on about the scapegoating I’ve seen here and elsewhere. But instead, please allow me to suggest something for you to consider:
One of the most destructive concepts of modern times is the “Better Mousetrap Theory”. Experience teaches that the world will not -repeat not - build a path to your door.
Republicans know how to build that path and persuade people to set out upon it. Democrats used to know, but times have changed.
Here’s a strategy for Democrats to take on the Hayden nomination vote. They should abstain. This is why I believe this is the best course of action.
Hilde and lhp, what was that from the Clinton campaign? “Speed Kills.” Not much faster than the netroots, is there?
al-scooter,
“Republicans know how to build that path and persuade people to set out upon it.”
Are you suggesting that Democrats follow the GOP example and pander to people’s fears, their greed, and their prejudices? Because if you are, you are overlooking a fundemental difference between Democrats and Republicans: there is a limit to how low Democrats will stoop to grab the gold ring, and thank God for that.
Redshift 93, the ponytail guy?
Mash @ 96, I like it. The “I refuse to be a party to this BS” approach. It’s a keeper, especially as long as the D’s are outnumbered in both House & Senate. Wish you could convince the “leadership” to use it.
Mash 95: There’s merit to that idea. I read your arguments and I see no flaw: abstention blunts the “pussies in time of war” accusation while registering disapproval of the nominee’s fundamental dishonesty, as well as of the institutional disrespect of he who nominated him.
Goodnight all and Jane - Jane everybody right beside you
(((((( )))))))
Mash @ 96
I concur. Good post.
DP, I think al-Scooter was suggesting we show people a different path … not that I would presume to speak for someone else, that was just how I read it. Turn away from the Dark Side, yah?
Bravo, TRex.
Bon soir, all … I gotta work tomorrow!
mark sb - I never really saw where DiFi said she was displeased with the candidate, but if she was it makes no sense to then vote for him. If you want the argument to be that they want to make sure the Repubs get what they ask for, so it can all be laid at their feet - well, the Repubs had the votes for him already. So adding her voice to theirs makes her a sharer in the calamity - in essence, the opposite of what you are speculating might be the strategy.
Moral bankruptcy is never a good strategy - this may be too obscure - but they only do sevens in the court of morals, never 11s.