I'm leaving off names because it doesn't matter.

If you've ever been active on the left, you are frequently reminded of why certain stereotypes are grounded in reality. A famous quip about Democrats notes the lack of cohesion, of the disunity in purpose and direction in so many on our side. Who among us hasn't been bored to tears by the single-issue locutionist, who waxes loquaciously about some topic in equal parts volume and intensity, and who never manages to completely form a "question" to the panel, despite several paragraphs worth of effort?

And yet...sitting in a room of Old Schoolers gathered round the fires of an appropriately PC dining environment and properly full on in freethinker's display, I had a thought. The blogger gracing my side for the afternoon had already declared his assessment, and was busy getting to some important email. It struck me that the leadership torch really has passed, and with it, there have been some changes in methodology and the plan of attack.

The spirit of brevity weighs upon me this afternoon, so the short version is this: post-Federal society demands that the opposition rely upon asymmetrical, new/open source media based, small group, highly diversified "rapid fire" technique. Civil disobedience rooted in the common understanding of what is moral and legal generates few results. That is because an essential aspect of the post-Federalist consciousness perceives that to pseudofascists and neocons, morality and the law have no meaning. Hypocritical posturing value: surely, but actual social meaning? No.

I'm sure this is going to piss off some readers, but I think I'm a pretty good judge of "who's who" in a movement, and to me, the life and energy of ours no longer rests with the Traditionalists. I beginning to perceive a growing gap between Old and New school activists, and of those who have "moved on" in the understanding of what is at stake, and how to deal with that; and those who continue to draw upon models of the past. A good example of this: the main difference between a busy blog and a room in front of a panel is that on a blog, one click from every tenth reader can bring thousands of dollars, emails and phone calls in the same period of time as the pontificating. I love hearing myself talk, but I enjoy knowing I can and am doing even more at the same time.

It's actually rather ironic for a SCLM hater nonpareil like me to be advocating that there are important lessons to be learned from those hacks, but that's a big part of what I'm saying. I keep my fruitiness deeply hidden in mixed company, unless my express purpose is to declare it. I recognize that part and unfair parcel with the marginalization of the progressive population includes reminding Joe Sixpack how longwinded, smelly and dirty we are. The better among us are very, very good at breaking out of this stereotype, for all that we may internally critique them. Slick and savvy are essential in the environment of today's public discourse. I don't like it, but it's true.

I had this discussion a while back with a veteran of progressive politics; someone who's been speaker, audience member and member of the media. I was reminded of what I'm attempting to convey here, but I was more forgiving then, recognizing the contribution a lot of the leadership has made to past struggles. But to me, it's a short bridge and you've either crossed it or you haven't: the rules have changed, and the future is being decided by those willing to operate according to that fact.

The progressive blogosphere isn't that much better, but it has an energy and sense of purpose the more traditional organizations are lacking today. I don't mean to sound so cold, but I left giggling a little and wondering how much longer some of these people are going to remain on the other side of the bridge. The Bush Administration is criminal, warmongering, immoral, imperialist, terrorizing, corrupt and incompetent. Tell me something I don't know, and of a more substantial plan than sending post cards to the White House. Snark: if you read the intertubes, you know that snail mail gets ignored routinely now by many elected officials, under the guise of "security" concerns since the Anthrax mailing.