[Welcome Matt Stoller (!!) readers. Via Susie.]
[Chris “Squishy Fix” Bowers endorsed Stoller’s post (below). Check it out. Please tell me this is parody! I’ll retract, I’ll do the walk of shame, but please tell me this is parody!**]
Tell me again why we say Kewl Kidz instead of Kool Kidz?*
I’ve always loved this passage from Neal Stephensen’s Snow Crash, and not just because I feel like I’m going to end up living in a shipping container. I’ll quote a huge slab of it just cause I love it so much. The relevance will become clear, I promise:
And finally, there is a guy that Y.T. dubs the High Priest. He’s wearing a formerly white lab coat, bearing the logo of some company in the Bay Area. He’s sacked out in the back of a dead station wagon, but when Y.T. enters the area he jumps up and runs toward her in a way that she can’t help but find a little threatening. But compared to these others, he seems almost like a regular, healthy, fit, demented bush-dwelling psychotic.
“You’re here to pick up a suitcase, right?”
“I’m here to pick up something. I don’t know what it is,” she says.
He goes over to one of the dead cars, unlocks the hood, pulls out an aluminum briefcase … “Here’s your delivery,” he says, striding toward her. She backs away from him instinctively.
“I understand, I understand,” he says. “I’m a scary creep.”
He puts it on the ground, puts his foot on it, gives it a shove. It slides across the pavement to Y.T., bouncing off the occasional rock.
There’s no big hurry on this delivery,” he says. ’Would you like to stay and have a drink? We’ve got Kool-Aid.”
“I’d love to,” Y.T. says, “but my diabetes is acting up real bad.”
“Well, then you can just stay and be a guest of our community. We have a lot of wonderful things to tell you about. Things that could really change your life.”
“Do you have anything in writing? Something I could take with me?”
“Gee, I’m afraid we don’t. Why don’t you stay. You seem like a really nice person.”
“Sorry, Jack, but you must be confusing me with a bimbo,” Y.T. says. “Thanks for the suitcase. I’m out of here.”
Yes, it’s always nice to have a “graceful” way out of these situations.
But why do the words “Matt Stoller” suddenly come into my mind?
Perhaps it’s this post. I wish I had time for the massive takedown, but after the trying to beat out the flames round the olive branch, I don’t have time.
Just let me juxtapose these a few paragraphs and, readers, maybe you can do the rest. There’s this:
You know all that old-style Washington politics preventing real change? As hard as it might be to handle, in a lot of ways he means that those of us who believe in partisan hard edged combat are part of an outmoded system. It doesn’t actually divide cleanly; old hand Tom Daschle is a key figure and likely to be Obama’s chief of staff, and Artur Davis is likely to be his Attorney General. These are old school Democrats, and Obama’s machine is full of the Congressional wing of the party that lost out in 1992 to Clinton and his people.
Surprise.
And then there’s this:
I’m curious about Obama’s governing philosophy, as that is where the Republicans are going to make their stand in 2009. Without traditional outside groups (and he doesn’t want them involved, witness his lobbyist ban in his new administration), Obama is going to be relying on the emergent networks that come from his campaign to buttress his priorities, but since we don’t actually know what they are, it’s hard to figure out what his governing strategy will be.
And then there’s this:
We have a leader, and he’s not a partisan and he can now end fractious intraparty fights with a word and/or a nod. … He has control of the party apparatus, the grassroots, the money, and the messaging environment. He is also, and this is fundamental, someone that millions of people believe in as a moral force. When you disagree with Obama, you are saying to these people ’your favorite band sucks’.
Not, of course, that there is anything “cultish” about all this. Heaven forfend.
[Obama ] is attempting to completely rewrite the rules of politics, and we should try to figure out what that means for where we take our meager work. Obama is now the party leader. And he has ensured and we have given him the mandate that when he speaks, he speaks for all of us. I hope he’s a vibrant progressive when he gets into office [!!], and we should begin figuring out how to put ourselves in a position to help him take the country in a progressive direction.
All that Obama needs, apparently, is the same kind of white horse that Napolepn III rode.
Like my father said (only once, fortunately), I don’t know whether to puke or go blind. It’s hard to know what is the awesome-est.
Should I be most awed by Stoller’s self-abasement (“meagre work”) before the Leader (“a moral force”)?
Should I be most awed by Stoller’s hope (“I hope he’s a vibrant progressive”) or his curiousity (“I’m curious about Obama’s governing philosophy”)?
Or should I be most awed by Stoller’s faith (“real change”) in old hands (“Tom Daschle”)?
Decisions, decisions. Readers?
NOTE “Get in the car”?
I’d love to. But my diabetes is acting up real bad.
NOTE * On the headline: Only kidding! Where’s your sense of humor?
UPDATE ** From Bowers:
We will see lots of emphasis on non-partisanship, ethics reform, election reform instead of on, say, placating labor unions, environment groups, and the LGBT community by throwing each of these groups a policy bone or two. Now, the focus will be on broad, squishy fixes that are designed to appeal to several groups at once.
Squishy fixes? Never let it be said that the OFB
has not thought deeply about policy!
UDPATE What Susie said:
The only reason anyone has paid attention to the blogosphere is because of our fundraising, period. Obama’s now vacuumed up the majority of the grassroots donors, is discouraging his donors from giving to anyone else, and there’s no point whatsoever to placating the netroots.
I can’t believe Stoller doesn’t get that. They don’t need us, and we will have no influence whatsoever in an Obama administration. Those of you who dream of a new progressive netroots Utopia will have a rather rude awakening, I think. (Not that this makes some huge difference in my own life - I’ve never thought bloggers were anywhere near as influential as they like to think.)I can believe that Obama, or Daschle, or whoever designed his movement, has relatively benign intent - for now. But the nature of unchecked power is such that the power inevitably becomes an end in itself - and, of course, corrupts.
Bingo. Now it’s on the record. Honestly, I feel just like I did in the run-up to Iraq….
Front page
It's impossible not to reach the conclusion
that you mentioned in a previous post: hostile takeover.
I think we have to reconcile ourselves with this. We’ve been banned, kicked out, forced into exile from the Democratic party.
It’s done, over with.
I will still contribute to HRC until it’s over. Then, depending on the results:
1. if HRC wins the nomination, I’ll campaign my butt out for her
2. if BO does, then, it’s goodbye, good luck.
It’s been made very clear that the new Dems don’t need nor want us around. Fine. But what do I know, I’m part of the dry pussy demographic (although I’m only 38). I am part of the creative class but their party is not mine.
It does not make me happy but, hey, c’est la vie. We did the best we could.
And to think I started this primary enthused about Democratic prospects no matter the nominee would be (and HRC was NOT my favorite choice). I guess I AM bitter.
You and VL fought the good fight, with enormous decency. The only good part I see in this is that I and many others discovered this blog (and others, but especially this one) and decided to stick around. In my case, it’s the quality of the writing in addition to the political agreement.
No matter what happens, I’m sticking around, whether you want me or not!
Do these people care about posterity?
This is supposed to be a liberal intellectual? Oy. Do they realize the digital trail they are leaving is embarrassing, incoherent and not even good writing?
I agree
If it’s #1, then I’m in. If it’s #2, then I’ll go buy a clothespin for Election Day.
Take Heart
The “creative class” is not the only ones organizing during this campaign. Win or lose, Hillary Clinton has aided the organization of women as a voting bloc tremendously. Working in conjunction with Emily’s List, they are creating databases of women voters across America, many of whom are new or inconsistent voters. Mapping districts and mining data to use to help pro-choice democratic women get elected at every level of Government.
So, despite what they might think, the Blogger Boiz aren’t the only ones thinking about the future and what the Democratic Party might look like. The only difference is that, unlike women, they don’t make up 55% of democratic primary voters. It’s going to be a lot harder to lock us out than they think.
This is also why all that tut-tutting about Clinton’s future if she doesn’t DROP OUT NOW is bullshit. Even if she loses she’s got a lot more political juice than she had going in. And, of course, by going forward, she gets to help find and pull in women (and other voters) in all 50 states.
IMO The Obama 527s Are So Enthralled With The Idea
that they will be the power behind the throne or part of this great movement they do not even care that they have no real idea of what they are supporting or the fact that Obama will not have anything to do with them. You see small flickers of reality like old style political players are going to key players in his administration and the curiosity of Obama’s governing philosophy yet they seem able to gloss this over and rationalize their support.
Not being part of this “Creative Class” is beginning to be a real badge of honor to me.
It's Quite Clear Who Is Going To Be The Power Behind The Thrown
Tom Daschle, Ted Kennedy, Jim Clyburn, John Conyers. Wall Street Brokers. Chicago Hedge Funds. Law Firms. Lobbyists.
Meet the new boss. Same as the old boss.
Throne...
There’s other stuff that’s thrown, but not this.
[x] Any (D) in the general. [ ] ?????. [ ] Any mullah-sucking billionaire-teabagging torture-loving pus-encrusted spawn of Cthulhu, bless his (R) heart.
Speaking of Napoleons, this one's for Matt
Thanks, FrenchDoc!
I love ya back!
"Hope" Springs Eternal
For the “eggheads”.
They got what they wanted (they think, anyway), even though they don’t really know quite what it is they got, but they “Hope” it is everything they always yearned for.
Ain’t it kewl!
“Eggheads & AAs”
You gotta love Paul Begala.
Lambert, are you registered in Philly?
They have just the thing for this November.
Have the Kreative Klass considered
that they may meet the same fate (metaphorically) as Ernst Rohm?
In the end there can be only one.
————————————————————————
” … we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender …”- Winston Churchill
My are wasting time on those goons?
Heads, Canada. Tails, Mexico.
It’s actually very similar to Clinton from 1994-2000, where power and money in the Democratic Party is being centralized around a key iconic figure. He’s consolidating power within the party.
On the bright side, there is good beer in both countries.
—————————————————————————-
” … we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender …”- Winston Churchill
You should have moved 5 years ago...
when you could get a favorable exchange on currency.
Completely batshit crazy...
I read this kind of crap, and I hope that what I’m looking at is a job application, because otherwise Stoller is completely batshit crazy.
oh, btw, I actually bought the single of “they’re coming to take me away, ha-ha” way back when it was released (you know us white folks…can’t resist a strong 1-3 clapping song). The flipside was the song played backward. With a backward label.
I remember it well, Paul
On the downside
You have to know two languages to get a job anywhere in either country now…..
“The great divide in this country is not by race or even income, it’s by those who think they are better than everyone else and think they should play by a different set of rules,” —Bill Clinton
Good Lord
Apparently Stoller has spent the last few years longing for an appealing boot to lick. So lucky for him Obama came along when he did.
"Squishy fixes"
I like the sound of that.
Like Jeralyn said: I thought it was a spoof.
Heck, maybe it was a massive three-fer between the three of ’em….
[x] Any (D) in the general. [ ] ?????. [ ] Any mullah-sucking billionaire-teabagging torture-loving pus-encrusted spawn of Cthulhu, bless his (R) heart.
Joe Conanson says Hillary is channeling George Wallace
because she mentioned race.
See Salon
http://www.salon.com/opinion/conason/200…
———————————————————————-
” … we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender …”- Winston Churchill
Conason
So many of these moments have been about… punctuation. Seriously, the commas make the quotation look malicious.
She clearly means that working-class white people haven’t embraced Obama, not that all white people are hard-working or that all hard-working people are white.
But, you know, I’m just a typical white person.
What happens when the "Creatives" hit 30? 40?
Bowers’ article is laughable, yet simultaneously beneath contempt. As a GLBT, I threw up in my mouth, like I did the first time I encountered Barack Dukakis, speaking at the ’04 convention.
[Colbert]Let’s move on.[/Colbert]
As for the “creatives”, Brazile seems enamored of all that new urban-ness and youth but these hipster folks with their laptops at coffee shops living in 1BRs are gonna make just like Mommy and Daddy did and hit the ’burbs (or some reasonable facsimile) when it comes time to spawn and think about schools. Now, what are their choices going to be for politics? Are they going to cling to their “Democratic” allegiances, the way that the sprawlers/ex-urbs currently around Philadelphia have been, turning these long-red counties to purple, or are they going to do something else?
Maybe decide that “I got mine, Jack” and just vote for whoever brings the tax cuts? I see a lot of that incredible selfishness (sorry, “pragmatism”) in their thinking and writing.
Douchebags in waiting.
Waiting
Douchebags in waiting.
You say that like it’s a _future_ thing.
TonyRz: They hope they die before they get old
Like Keith Moon. Roger, Pete and John seem to have changed their minds.
———————————————————————
” … we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender …”- Winston Churchill
re: living the good life in Canada
jeqal
“You have to know two languages to get a job anywhere in either country now…..”
Only in Quebec. The rest of Canada, not so. The other misrepresentation you may have seen is that our single-payer, universal healthcare system doesn’t work. Oh yes, it does. And about all that snow? (Well, actually, we had a lot this past winter) But! the southernmost point of Ontario is on the same latitude as Monterrey CA.
Bowers's Vision of Obama
Sounds a lot like… Chris Bowers. Or Matt Yglesias, or Ezra Klein, or Josh Marshall. Quelle surprise.
Will They Have an Obama Version of the Watchtower?
Via Marc Ambinder:
Great, an Obama internet troll crossed with a Jehovah’s Witness. Yet another reason to consider registering independent.
Then there’s this from that Matt Stoller piece:
I’ll give ’em this, they’re ambitious fucks. They have no idea how to win an election, but I’m beginning to think that’s a good thing.
I'm so happy
that heterosexual white males are in charge of the progressive blogosphere. As a gay man, I wouldn’t know what to think, being obsessed with “bones” (thrown, and otherwise) and all….
Bower's Vision
Particularly, “Cultural Shift: Out with Bubbas, up with Creatives: There should be a major cultural shift in the party, where the southern Dems and Liebercrat elite will be largely replaced by rising creative class types,” tells me all I need to know. The arrogance and underlying assumptions about the party’s base (read those dumb hicks that vote Clinton) are astounding and if such a vision were implemented it would absolutely destroy the democratic party. Talk about never winning another election, how does 5% of the total vote look? I won’t even get into the kind of policy disasters this would lead to since such a ’coalition’ has no chance to do much more than dominate the board of a country club and I doubt they’d be able to manage that.
This “Movement” is a recipe for single-party (GOP) rule and must be stopped even if it means four years of McCain.
As if I didn’t have enough reasons to NEVER vote for Obama…
But why do the words “Matt Stoller” suddenly come into my mind?
I keep thinking “Ross Perot” myself — but with public speaking skills, instead of charts.
What Matt
is saying is simpler:
Obama is taking over the party and cutting out everyone who isn’t in his camp. He believes in post-partisanship (this doesn’t contradict having Daschle as your bud, y’know). Money flow is going to come mostly from Obama going forward, unless he loses the election. The independents-folks like MoveOn, ActBlue, the netroots, etc… are being cut out, whether they realize it or not (and I know that some don’t.)
So Matt, seeing that Obama is going to be in charge, and is going to be controlling money and access is hoping that Obama is going to turn out to be a good president who really can make things like “post partisanship” work.
He’s also hoping progressives and the blogosphere can have some influence. I think that hope is, well, hopeless, but I can understand why he wouldn’t want to see it that way yet.
Good food, too
I’m leaning Canada; I’d like to try some poutine. Also, I don’t have to worry about drug cartels up there.
No Paul,
Stoller is batshit insane. He’s a self-satisfied Harvard graduate, ergo, he knows more than anyone.
They're already douchebags
You missed Bowers stamping his little foot and having a hissy fit when he pondered how he could quit the Democratic Party.
(You can start humming “Battle Hymn of the Republic” now)
(Stop humming, please)
This dumbass is all of 30. So go already, Chris. Why wait? Do us all a favor and go.
Is there a something lower than sycophant?
I think that kind of writing style which infers the “thoughts” of the Dear Leader without actually having any relationship to Him is great. If this were NORTH KOREA!
The best quote to me was:
“Obama is going to be relying on the emergent networks that come from his campaign to buttress his priorities, but since we don’t actually know what they are, it’s hard to figure out what his governing strategy will be.”
This is writing from the “School of Technocratic Fanaticism” (Hey, get a Masters in 1 week!) using the meaningless trope of 15 dollar words that says… nothing.. about stuff he admits he doesn’t know.. in other words: “Hey, i’m just guessing here, but isn’t Dear Leader so kewl??”
yuck.
One Thing That Got Me
Were the constant references to MyBarackObama.com. You know the website that one dedicated Obama supporter created, and had it taken over by the Obama campaign. That bodes real well for how this is going to play out.
Bill Clinton for First Dude!!!
How low can you go?
The sycophant has a sycophant has a sycophant…
[x] Any (D) in the general. [ ] ?????. [ ] Any mullah-sucking billionaire-teabagging torture-loving pus-encrusted spawn of Cthulhu, bless his (R) heart.
Sycophants or Psycho fans?
Sufferin’ sycophants!
” … we shall fight on the beaches, we shall fight on the landing grounds, we shall fight in the fields and in the streets, we shall fight in the hills; we shall never surrender …”- Winston Churchill
Ah, I figured it wasn't voter registration as such...
… but voter registration for Obama.
I hope all the other voter registration got the message Obama sent by trashing WVWV during the pre-NC/IN wankfest.
[x] Any (D) in the general. [ ] ?????. [ ] Any mullah-sucking billionaire-teabagging torture-loving pus-encrusted spawn of Cthulhu, bless his (R) heart.