Some of the issues I was discussing in my recent post about Barack Obama’s web based strategy and its potential for both further political hay making and for keeping an electoral coalition together are neatly encapsulated in this article from The Boston Globe. Worth a read.
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Has it occurred to anyone what the situation might have been like if this apparatus had been in the hands of a RWDB, instead of Obama? Or what it will be like if the RWDBs pull something like this off successfully in the future?
Just askin’.
This statement requires much explanation:
It seems to misstate the truth that Obama won because he was able to mobilise grassroots support to help him win the Democrat nomination.
The truth of the assertion will be established when (if ever) a candidate wins the presidency as an independent — neither Republican nor Democrat — against R and D opponents.
George Wallace and H. Ross Perot never achieved this, but both won many votes running against both Reps and Dems.
Paul, that worries me too. I remember how effectively the Right learnt to use grass roots-type (more usually astroturf, but still) campaigns from the example provided by the Left in the 60s.
David irving (no relation) @ 3,
You just confirm my worst fears. Guess only time will tell.
And another thing. Apart from some mutterings from Bush and the stitch-up with Gaza, the American RWDBs have been ominously silent since Obama’s election. (I got a nonsensical e-mail from the CEC where Lyndon LaRouche claimed Cheney was planning to start a war with Iran before Obama was inaugurated – but that’s the CEC.) I know Obama is an apostle of American capitalism and probably will continue the depredations of American military and economic imperialism to some extent, but he’s still a very, very good man, and I fear for his safety. We don’t have too many good people in positions of power around the world – at least not for long. When I watch him on TV I feel an overwhelming sadness, and I’ve had a horrible dream about him, which I hope is in no way predictive. Even though I’m a socialist and virulently anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist, I think right now the world needs him, even if, according to my lights, he isn’t perfect.
I know I’m just being silly, but …
The Right Blogosphere peaked with ‘ Rathergate ‘…or rather ‘ Jumped-the-shark’ with this beat-up ‘scandal’. That was years ago now. Now King Barry Vero Possumus just peaked mid-last year when he bumped off Hillary. Since then he’s been going downhill in net terms. Its too early to say if he’s finished yet, but I would say he has. The net is not into nostalgia much ( politically speaking )
I would venture a guess, armed with the latest news out of the UK and here, that democratic-socialism, itself has peaked and is now in terminal decline. So that leaves libertarian-socialism more space to rise in.
Anarchism being the most natural fit for the net, and becoming even more so daily I confidently predict a global anarchist federation within five years. Probably less.
Peace in our lifetimes.
I feel what you are saying Paul and I too have areas of grave concern for the safety of Barrie. Guess it comes from living through so many of the US’s RWDB stunts of the past.
I’m going to try and stay up tonight and watch the inauguration, no matter how tired I am. Just hope the next door neghbour doesn’t compain about my TV.
I’m not sure we really get this entirely in Oz, after reading various American accounts of the people streaming into Washington. I suspect many Americans of all races see Obama as a symbol of righting psast wrongs against Afro-Americans, and as a symbol of hope for the future. (as well as being glad to see the back of the Imbecile, who, btw, didn’t ring to say goodbye to our Kev.)I find the whole thing very emotional, but for the Yanks. Wow!
He probably doubts Kev’s legitimacy, Paul.
After all, we tend to judge others by our own standards …
I wish Obama well and will watch the swearing in tonight,but I never realised how either silly or racist West Australians were til I started reading comments on OBAMAs election and coming inauguration.
And I thought the US was bad,thank Gawd we will see the back of Bush and the gang of criminals he has around him
In my memory a presidential inauguration has never been an international media event. Am I wrong? This phenomena borders on some kind of Felliniesque religious event.
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Obama better be at least half as good a people think he is. Because if he ain’t a lot of people are going to hate him.
I certainly don’t recall any previous inauguration being treated/covered like this, Adrien. No doubt there’s an element of backlash against Bush in all of it. But I’m not particularly over the moon about encouraging any American belief that they’re the arbiters of the world’s destiny, no matter whether their president is to our taste or not.
Yes, you are wrong. At least since WWII the inauguration of an American president has been an international media event. This is hardly surprising as America is the largest of the Western democracies and, post WWII, for better or worse, has taken on the mantle of the “leader of the free world”. The inauguration of its president couldn’t be expected to pass unnoticed by the international media.
Katz @ 2, you cut and pasted the same para from the Beantown Globe I was going to!
Great minds, eh?
But you’re wrong about the viability of third party candidates reflecting whether or not American democracy can work–George Wallace and Perot were, respectively, a hatemonger and a loon.
‘Third party’ in the states is mostly the reserve of profoundly unstable individuals. Heard of Jesse Ventura’s conversion to 9/11 truther? Bloomberg is an exception to this rule, so naturally he plays the game as a conventional powerbroker…
Murdoch’s pay teevee has started showing C-SPAN. The talkback calls are very candid.
GregM – naturally not, but I don’t think we’ve seen Australian free to air channels show it live before!
At least since WWII the inauguration of an American president has been an international media event.
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I’m sorry Greg I mean to distinguish between a media event and a news item. This inauguration is like a royal wedding or Live Aid or something. The spectacle seems to me unprecendented.
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I diodn;t mean to suggest that no-one ever covered an inauguration before. I’m sure they’ve all been covered. Except maybe Carter’s.
Mark – But I’m not particularly over the moon about encouraging any American belief that they’re the arbiters of the world’s destiny, no matter whether their president is to our taste or not.
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Given that Obamamania is stongest in foreign markets I reckon the belief in manifest destiny is something not entirely restricted to the US. In fact the Cult of Obama is something akin to that enjoyed by the Imperators of old.
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Remember Caligula was very popular when he started out too. (Gulp).
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And we should all spare a thought for those of us who will be severely disadvantaged by Dubya’s demise – comedians for example.