So, the netroots thing has its role to play in inspiring enthusiasm and turnout, combating stoopid talking points, etc, etc, but what future for the liberal/left blogosphere in the States in the event of an Obama win?
Michael Bérubé recalls the wonders (ahem) of the Clinton administration, and has some advice for the collective(ist) tubes:
But perhaps the left blogosphere could be of some use in this regard, no? It needn’t be consolidated fully into Obama Enterprises Inc.; it could serve instead as a forum for writers dedicated to things like “hope” and “change” and “arguing that Obama was wrong to cave on FISA and better not do that kind of thing as President.” Of course, it could also serve as a forum for charting and mocking all manner of Ace-of-Confederate-Red-State-Yankeespade wingnuts as they venture into new realms of sheer barking lunacy that even the world’s sheerest barkingest lunatics have hitherto been unable to imagine. That might be fun. And it could do “shorters” and cat blogging and Theory Tuesdays and Friday Random Tens too. It’s a blogosphere. It’s a big place, with many many tubes.
Dare I ask: What has been the recent past of teh liberal/left blogosphere in Australia in the event of a Rudd win?
Setting the agenda? Robust critiques of the minutiae of their governence? Playing into the hands of
2020their PR stunts? Wantonly distracted by anything off-shore and/or peripheral? Shows promise, could do better?That is something I had pondered Kim. I’m certainly not an expert on the US blogosphere, but the popular ones seem to be overly partisan, Huffpo, Daily Kos, Washingotn Monthly, reading them you would think they were actually on the Obama payroll. I’ve enjoyed reading obsidian wings lately, especially for detailed posts on the situation in Iraq, but they still excessively focus on the Obama/McCain horserace.
For what its worth, I don’t think the Oz lefty blogosphere has turned into a Rudd cheerleading squad, LP in particular keeps the focus on policy, keep up the good work.
Carl, one could just as well claim that the Corner, Ace of Spades, et al, are on McCain’s payroll.
Absolutley Helen, *Shudders at the mere thought of ‘redstate’*
Vice versa – Obama’s on their payroll. One of the reasons for the Great Orange Satan is to make it easier for people to identify the Dems that need funding and then donate to them. It also helps to identify the Repubs that are in desperate need of defeat (e.g. Michelle Bachman) and then donate to their opponents.
And yes – they’re partisan. Oh boy.
And no one’s arguing with that. But Berube’s point is:
(a) What about the “left of Obama” position? Who really holds to that? Or are the Kos and Huffpos just Dem politics as usual…
(b) What happens after the election?