Guest Gichin13 Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/01/27/AR2006012701505.html Democrats are getting an early glimpse of an intraparty rift that could complicate efforts to win back the White House: fiery liberals raising their voices on Web sites and in interest groups vs. elected officials trying to appeal to a much broader audience.These activists -- spearheaded by battle-ready bloggers and making their influence felt through relentless e-mail campaigns -- have denounced what they regard as a flaccid Democratic response to the Supreme Court fight, President Bush's upcoming State of the Union address and the Iraq war. In every case, they have portrayed party leaders as gutless sellouts. First, liberal Web logs went after Democrats for selecting Virginia Gov. Timothy M. Kaine to deliver the response to Bush's speech next Tuesday. Kaine's political sins: He was too willing to drape his candidacy in references to religion and too unwilling to speak out aggressively against Bush on the Iraq war. Kaine has been lauded by party officials for finding a victory formula in Bush country by running on faith, values and fiscal discipline. Many Web commentators wanted Rep. John P. Murtha (D-Pa.), a leading critic of the Iraq war who advocates a speedy withdrawal, to be the opposition voice on the State of the Union night. Most Democratic lawmakers have distanced themselves from the Murtha position. "What the hell are they thinking?" was the title of liberal blogger Arianna Huffington's column blasting the Kaine selection. "Blogs can take up a lot of time if you're on them," Kaine said to reporters Thursday. "You can get a lot done if you're not bitterly partisan." The Virginia Democrat said he will not adjust his speech to placate the party's base. "I'm not anybody's mouthpiece or shill or poster boy for that matter. I'm going to say what I think needs to be said and they seem very comfortable with that." Liberal activists seemed to have slightly more influence with their campaign to persuade Senate Democrats to filibuster the Supreme Court nomination of Samuel A. Alito Jr. Despite several polls showing that the public opposes the effort, Sen. John F. Kerry (D-Mass.) on Thursday strongly advocated the filibuster plan -- and wrote about his choice on the Daily Kos, a Web site popular with liberals. Sen. Robert C. Byrd (D-W.Va.), a leading liberal and critic of the Iraq war, told reporters Kerry's viewpoint is not shared by most in a culturally conservative swing state such as West Virginia. Senate Minority Leader Harry M. Reid (D-Nev.) also opposes the filibuster. Sen. Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-N.Y.) is another frequent target of the Internet attacks. Code Pink, an antiwar women's group with a flashy Web site, plans to protest one of Clinton's weekend fundraisers and is using the Web site to rally people against the New York Democrat. The critics say Clinton has not challenged Bush aggressively enough on Iraq. "The bloggers and online donors represent an important resource for the party, but they are not representative of the majority you need to win elections," said Steve Elmendorf, a Democratic lobbyist who advised Kerry's 2004 presidential campaign. "The trick will be to harness their energy and their money without looking like you are a captive of the activist left." The blogs-vs.-establishment fight represents the latest version of a familiar Democratic dispute. It boils down to how much national candidates should compromise on what are considered core Democratic values -- such as abortion rights, gun control and opposition to conservative judges -- to win national elections. Many Democrats say the only way to win nationally is for the party to become stronger on the economy and promote a centrist image on cultural values, as Kaine did in Virginia and as Bill Clinton did in two successful presidential campaigns. The new twist in this debate is the Web, which in recent election cycles emerged as a powerful political force, one expected to figure even more prominently as more people get high-speed connections and turn to the Internet for news and commentary. Unlike the past, the "pressure is conveyed through a faster, better organized, more insistent medium," said Jim Jordan, a Democratic strategist. In the 2004 campaign, liberals used the Web to organize meetings and raise money to power the unexpected rise of former Vermont governor Howard Dean in the Democratic primaries. Dean, a newcomer to national politics who connected with liberals with his antiwar position and declaration to supporters that "you have the power" to change Washington, shattered fundraising records and for months was considered the front-runner in the race for the nomination. But the Democratic establishment turned on Dean, and his grass-roots operation was not as strong in reality as it appeared on the Internet. Since then, liberal activists have created scores of political blogs and used the Web as an organizing tool and a way to quickly vent frustrations to Democratic leaders in Washington. The closest historic parallel would be the talk-radio phenomenon of the early 1980s, when conservatives -- like liberals now -- felt powerless and certain they did not have a way to voice their views because the mainstream media and many of their own leaders considered them out of touch. Through talk radio, often aired in rural parts of the country on the AM dial, conservatives pushed the party to the right on social issues and tax cuts. The question Democrats will debate over the next few years is whether the prevailing views of liberal activists on the war, the role of religion in politics and budget policies will help or hinder efforts to recapture the presidency and Congress. Even if they disagree with their positions, Democratic candidates recognize from the Dean experience the power of the activists to raise money and infuse a campaign with their energy. On the flip side, the Alito and Kaine episodes serve as a cautionary tales of what can happen to politicians when they spurn the blogs. "John Kerry is beginning to bring the traditional Democratic leadership in Washington together with the untraditional netroots activists of the country," James Boyce wrote on the Huffington Post. "A man often accused of being the ultimate Washington insider looked outside of the beltway and saw the concern, in fact, the distress among literally millions of online Democrats." Other Democrats, Boyce wrote, "triangulated, fabricated, postulated and capitulated." Staff writer Michael D. Shear contributed to this report. Hmm, self-inflicted political suicide in progress. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larry Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Yeah, good thing the GOP doesn't have a bunch of fanatical, mouth-foaming internet "representatives" trying to move their party rightward. (I am a but surprised to see the Post pointing this out, though. Maybe the Post has a bigger problem with "bloggers" than they do with "far-left fanatics".) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 That's funny as hell "You better listen to us and stay on the radical kooky left side, or we'll campaign against you for reaching for the center" What a joke the Dems have become Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
twa Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 That is the road they took losing Texas,I suppose they never learn. :ciao: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 That is the road they took losing Texas,I suppose they never learn. :ciao: Keep on going lefties Gay rights for All! Save the animals! Save the trees! Stop driving cars and SUV's Take ALL the guns Do what you want, smoke dope, don't bath, have sex with 10 year old because it's your right! Keep on going guys:applause: Soon you be mentioned with the Whigs Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winslowalrob Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Really cool article, the parallels between the bloggers and 80's radio DJs is discomforting. On the other hand, they DID end up winning, so I would not call it suicide. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Destino Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Keep on going leftiesGay rights for All! Save the animals! Save the trees! Stop driving cars and SUV's Take ALL the guns Do what you want, smoke dope, don't bath, have sex with 10 year old because it's your right! Keep on going guys:applause: Soon you be mentioned with the Whigs Only Sarge would think of "save the animals" and "save the trees" as being associated with "have sex with a 10 year old". :laugh: :doh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
hokie4redskins Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Had it not been for Ross Perot, the Dems would've last sniffed the Oval Office with Jimmy Carter. They're buried neck-deep in the sand and the tide is coming in fast. I love it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Thiebear Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 The enemy of my enemy is my friend.... When it comes time for the Primary: Each side will hit the 10% hard. When it comes time for the General: Each side will hit the 80% harder leaving behind the 10% as delicately as possible. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winslowalrob Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Had it not been for Ross Perot, the Dems would've last sniffed the Oval Office with Jimmy Carter. They're buried neck-deep in the sand and the tide is coming in fast. I love it. Ahh the Republicans, a Pakistani Muslim's best friend. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TC4 Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Let the Dems rip each other apart They don't have the sense enough to realize it will make them weaker, not stronger Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NoCalMike Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Umm, as if the right-wing doesn't have the same % of bloggers from the far right typing their hearts out over things they don't like about the Republican party. I just think BOTH SIDES now are tired of the constant push to the middle. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fred Jones Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Very sad to see the left dictating policy. Looks like another four years of republican rule because the left is just plain stupid. Bush and the GOP is pretty much giving the election to the Dems and they are throwing it away. The Dems have finally recovered from the Clinton scandals and have nothing to show for it. People like me, who are middle of the road, get forgotten. Both the far right and the far left are just too far for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DarkLadyRaven Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Like I have siad just go to Free Republic threads to see Social conservatives and Liberterians blow the **** out of each other over Trade with China or the FCC. Social Conservatives have just rolled out the "Country Club Republicans" to describe liberaterians which is a dirty work. It means basically posers Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkinsHokieFan Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Ahh the Republicans, a Pakistani Muslim's best friend. Pssst, thats me You got us mixed up :laugh: And actually, the Republican party has been very good to Pakistan It was during the Clinton 90s that Pakistan got hit hardest with sanctions Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cdowwe Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Ahh the Republicans, a Pakistani Muslim's best friend. Ahh the Democrats, a terrorist's best friend. Makes about as much sense. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Winslowalrob Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Pssst, thats me You got us mixed up :laugh: And actually, the Republican party has been very good to Pakistan It was during the Clinton 90s that Pakistan got hit hardest with sanctions From a historical background, I would say both parties records on Pakistan is fairly mixed (from its creation onward). I do not know enough about the region prior to that to say one way or the other whether liberal parties or conservative parties had favorable policies towards it. I assume you know more about it than I do so I am hoping for some more info. And Cdowwe, do you REALLY want me to show you the fallacy of your statement? Because nothing would give me greater pleasure . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sarge Posted January 28, 2006 Share Posted January 28, 2006 Very sad to see the left dictating policy. Looks like another four years of republican rule because the left is just plain stupid. Bush and the GOP is pretty much giving the election to the Dems and they are throwing it away. The Dems have finally recovered from the Clinton scandals and have nothing to show for it.People like me, who are middle of the road, get forgotten. Both the far right and the far left are just too far for me. Come Fred. Join the Dark Side, and together we can rule the galaxy! :laugh: Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SnyderShrugged Posted January 29, 2006 Share Posted January 29, 2006 Like I have siad just go to Free Republic threads to see Social conservatives and Liberterians blow the **** out of each other over Trade with China or the FCC.Social Conservatives have just rolled out the "Country Club Republicans" to describe liberaterians which is a dirty work. It means basically posers But Libertarians are not considered part of "The Right" so you would expect major differences in their points of view. I think that there is a very different story when it comes to the Dems. For them, the far left is their base and they are very afraid of losing their activism for some reason. This scenario clearly shows that there are really more than two major parties now. It comes down to money and the strange concept of "electability" that brings the fringe into the major party fold. For me, the GOP has begun to lose my vote based solely on domestic spending. I'm a proud libertarian, though I don't vote for the Libertarian pary because I disagree with some party stances (abortion) For now, I'll vote for the candidate that will match my views the closest regardless of Party Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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